Dating of "Angels on Horseback"

[Joel S. Berson]

OED2:

s.v. angel:  7. angels on horseback (see quot. 1900).
    1888 Mrs. Beeton Bk. Househ. Managem. §2078 
Angels on Horseback. (Fr. — Anges à 
Cheval).  1900 ‘Sarah Grand’ Babs (1901) xv 
Angels on Horseback, now—those delicious little 
morsels of oysters rolled in bacon, and served on crisp toast.

And s.v; pig (n.1):
   1902 Daily Chron. 11 Oct. 8/4 ‘Pigs in 
Blankets’ the Americans call oysters wrapped in 
bacon. We...term them ‘Angels on 
Horseback’.  1973 Observer (Colour Suppl.) 16 
Sept. 83/2 The famous savoury angels on 
horseback. (The Americans call it pigs in blankets.)

I think these British quotations giving to "pigs 
in a basket" the meaning “oysters wrapped in 
bacon” may never have been correct--"pigs" is hot 
dogs over here.  Viz. OED2, s.v. "pig":
    1926 Maines & Grant Wise-Crack Dict. 12/2 Pig 
in a blanket, sausage in a roll.  1941 J. Smiley 
Hash House Lingo 43 Pig in a blanket, frankfurter sandwich.

Joel

At 1/16/2006 03:00 PM, you wrote:
>---------------------- Information from the mail 
>header -----------------------
>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster:       Michael McKernan <mckernan at LOCALNET.COM>
>Subject:      Re: Dating of "Angels on Horseback"
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Not having access to OED or any other reasonable sources, I humbly request
>assistance in dating "Angels on Horseback" (oysters wrapped in bacon and
>grilled or broiled, usually served on toast or half-shell.  May also refer
>to other ingredient than oysters--e.g., water chestnuts, hot dogs, etc.).
>
>Thanks!
>
>
>
>Michael McKernan
>
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>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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