polyglot = (non-linguistic) mixture

[Jesse Sheidlower]

On Sun, Jan 01, 2006 at 09:20:37PM -0500, Benjamin Zimmer wrote:
> AHD/MWCD/RHUD have "polyglot" in the sense of "a mixture or confusion
> of languages." (It's also in OED2, sense 2b, though marked "rare".)
> But what about the metaphorical extension of "polyglot" to denote a
> mixture of non-linguistic elements?
>
> >From the Dec.30/Jan. 6 issue of _Entertainment Weekly_ (p. 44):
>
> "_Lost_ has used that license to create not only a noodle-cooking
> mythology but a polyglot of unique characters ??? damaged souls fumbling
> for enlightenment and redemption in the damnedest of places ??? played
> by the best ensemble cast on television."
>
> Googling on "a polyglot of" finds all sorts of possible objects:
> races, ethnicities/ethnic peoples, religions/religious beliefs,
> nationalities, histories, intelligence agencies, regulations,
> buildings, etc., etc. Is this a new usage, or has it been flying under
> the lexicographic radar?

The OED's draft entry for this (no longer labelled "rare", by
the way) doesn't split it out, but has the note "Also in
extended use", with the earliest example from 1913.

Jesse Sheidlower
OED