Sweet Sixteen

[bapopik at AOL.COM]

(Early American Newspapers)
..
December 26, 1792    December 26, 1792 The Diary, or Loudon's Register, pg. 3: DiaryPoetry
December 26, 1792    DiaryPoetry The blooming maid of sweet sixteen,
And clap'd by all fair Beauty's queen,
She left her parent's home.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mullins, Bill <Bill.Mullins at US.ARMY.MIL>
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Sent: Wed, 3 Aug 2005 12:13:46 -0500
Subject: Re: Sweet Sixteen


under "sixteen"

4. A girl of sixteen.

  c1840 O. W. HOLMES The Dilemma 2 Now, by the bless'd Paphian queen,
Who heaves the breast of sweet sixteen.

under "sweet"

sweet seventeen: see SEVENTEEN a. 2; now more usually, sweet sixteen
(cf. SIXTEEN n. 4);

1826 Blackw. Edin. Mag. XX. 138/1 A bright-eyed, round-limbed virgin of
*sweet sixteen. 1898 J. THORNTON (song-title) When you were sweet
sixteen. 1977 Grimsby Even. Tel. 5 May 12/3 Unfortunately everybody
can't be sweet 16 and there are many shops catering for the older woman.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society
> [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael McKernan
> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 11:10 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Sweet Sixteen
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Michael McKernan <mckernan at LOCALNET.COM>
> Subject:      Sweet Sixteen
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------
>
> Again I turn to ADS-L to remedy my lack of access to OED and
> other standard references.  If anyone would do me the great
> favor of posting data on 'Sweet Sixteen' (particularly as a
> young women's coming-of-age rite-of-passage, as in 'sweet
> sixteen' birthday parties, etc.), I would be very grateful.
>
> Thank  you,
>
> Michael McKernan
>