Goody Two-Shoes (1924)

[Joel S. Berson]

Yes, I follow.  I wonder about the quotation below, however.  Doesn't
it have the sense of an overly-proper child?  Although I concede that
it is not explicit in the context; and the OED2 definitions, under
"two" and "goody", don't call this sense out explicitly.

1858 Geo. Eliot Scenes Clerical Life I. 166 Little Bessie Parrot, a
flaxen-headed 'two-shoes', very white and fat as to her neck.

In any case, I have submitted a 1665 quotation to the OED!  From the
same source as "gammar piss-house". And of course, antedates Oliver
Goldsmith (or whoever) by 100 years.

Thanks,
Joel

At 6/26/2006 11:00 AM, you wrote:
>It's the earliest citation I know of for a general usage of "Goody
>Two-Shoes," meaning an overly good person--one that is not a direct
>reference to the 1765 book. HDAS, citing W10, has 1934 as the earliest
>citation in this sense. The OED doesn't address the general usage at all.
>
>It's also used as an adjective, which I hadn't seen elsewhere, although
>adjectival use should not be surprising.
>
>--Dave Wilton
>   dave at wilton.net
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of
>Joel S. Berson
>Sent: Monday, June 26, 2006 7:16 AM
>To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>Subject: Re: Goody Two-Shoes (1924)
>
>Dave,
>
>I'm curious as to why this 1924 citation seemed significant to you.
>
>Joel
>
>At 6/25/2006 03:49 PM, you wrote:
> >There are lots of earlier references to the character and the 18th century
> >book. Not so many in purely figurative use. HDAS has 1934 (in W10).
> >
> >Los Angeles Times, 30 May 1924, "Callahan Defeated By Adams," p. 9:
> >"The two showed much brotherly affection in the first and second round
> >thereby bringing a Kansas tornado of yips and catcalls from the angered
> >fans. Hollywood bugs brook no Goody-Two-Shoes bouts."
> >
> >
> >--Dave Wilton
> >   dave at wilton.net
> >
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