southpaw (1871)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

OED and MWCD have 1891 for "southpaw" = 'left-handed person' (there are
earlier cites for "southpaw" = 'the left hand').  Barry has already
tracked down baseball cites from the 1880s -- here's an antedating in a
non-baseball context:

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1871  _Appletons' Journal_ 16 Dec. 692/2 Why is the right hand the
handiest? Is it so from instinct or education? for, anti-dexters and
"south-paws," or left-handed persons, are rare exceptions to the rule.
<http://tinyurl.com/8enl6>
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--Ben Zimmer