antedating of "pearl diver=dishwasher"
Sam Clements
SClements at NEO.RR.COM
Sun Jul 2 23:15:31 UTC 2006
OED has 1913.
_Boston Daily Globe_ 10 March 1907 pg.64 (from ProQuest)
Pearl Diver In Texas
Pearl diver wanted--apply at the ????Star cafe.' (copy illegible-ed.)
"The cafe was not in need of a diver when I applied, but the cashier
explained the duties of the job. The diver was the dishwasher; just the
Texas slang for the occupation."--Kansas City Times.
Sam Clements
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