Antedating of "Jackpot"

[Fred Shapiro]

jackpot (OED 1881)

1876 _St. Louis Globe-Democrat_ 28 Aug. 7 (19th Century U.S. Newspapers)
They are never seen playing billiards for wine and cigars, or passing out
of the game in a Jack pot when they hold a bob-tailed flush.  Indeed, like
the reader and myself, they do not know what a Jack pot is, unless it is a
pot to put jacks in, which is sometimes the case.

Fred Shapiro


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Fred R. Shapiro                             Editor
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