"courtesy" as preposition

[Jonathan Lighter]

This is very common but doesn't seem to be in OED.  "By the courtesy of" has been gradually reduced to "courtesy of" and finally just "courtesy."


1944 [M/Sgt. Jules F. Segal, ed.] The Jolly Rogers : The Best Damn Heavy Bomb Unit in the World [,] Southwest Pacific 1942-1944  (rpt. Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 1997) 13 : By the time the Jolly Rogers were ready for the dragon-shaped isle of New Guinea, there were 29 vessels less in the Jap Navy, and 91 Zeros less in the Jap Air Force, courtesy this outfit alone.

JL

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