"hard (cider)" 1786 antedates OED2 1789-

[Joel S. Berson]

Take a six quart jug of old hard cider, put therein a pint of country
mustard seed, one double handful of parsley roots, one double handful
of lignum vitae shavings, add one double handful of horseradish
roots; let them simmer together over a slow fire 48 hours, when it
will be fit for use.
[From the Albany Gazette.  FYI, a medicine for the cure of the Dropsy.]

3/2
"hard" (a)
antedates OED2 sense 14.c 1789-

Vermont Journal, 1786
25 April
Early American Newspapers

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