Loco-Foco

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On 9/4/07, Stephen Goranson <goranson at duke.edu> wrote:
>
> OED has 1839 for sense 1, the matches, and 1837 for sense 2, the political
> group, but with a note that "The name was given in 1835" and citation
> of a 1842
> foundation myth account involving the matches.
>
> Barry on this list 6 Dec 2005 properly (since it predates the known party)
> questioned the supposed date of Nov 30, 1833 for a [Boston] Liberator
> text with
> "Loco Focoism," though it's on his website without a question mark.
> Gale 19th C
> Newspapers gives that text as Nov 30, 1838.
>
>  From the same database, an ad announces new arrival of the matches in 1835.
> United States? Telegraph, (Washington, DC) Friday, September 25, 1835; pg.
> 1019; Issue 255; col C     Multiple Classified Advertisements
>
> LOCO FOCO MATCHES
> A New article for lighting Segars, &c. just
> received by TODD & CO.
> Sept 24-6t

Great minds, etc.:

http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0708B&L=ADS-L&P=R7912

Subsequently antedated (23 Jan 1835):

http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0708B&L=ADS-L&P=12017


--Ben Zimmer

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