"drive-by shooting"--- query from National Geographic research editor

[Herb Stahlke]

In our Lutheran congregation, we have two ways of managing the Eucharist.
One, the traditional method, has the people kneel at a railing around the
altar where they are served first bread and then wine.  The other method
involves intinction, dipping the bread in a chalice of wine.  With this
method, the servers stand at the front of the chancel with a platen of bread
and a chalice.  The communicants walk by the servers and are given the
elements as they pass by, dipping the bread in the wine.  This latter method
is sometimes referred to as "drive-by communion."  The first time I heard
the term was from a visitor from another congregation who disapproved and
used the phrase derisively.  Since then it's been picked up by members and
used either humorously or just as a neutral compound noun.  The fact that it
came into our congregation from the outside about four years ago suggests
that "drive-by" has a wider usage.

Herb

On Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 11:51 PM, Baker, John <JMB at stradley.com> wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Baker, John" <JMB at STRADLEY.COM>
> Subject:      Re: "drive-by shooting"--- query from National Geographic
>              research editor
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Scot's example is, of course, wonderful, but it may be something of an =
> outlier.  The earliest I see is from the Boston Herald, 9/26/1980 (via =
> Westlaw):
> =20
> <<Two men were arrested in Everett early yesterday after a mysterious =
> drive - by shooting left nine slugs in the city's school administration =
> building at Vine and Chelsea Streets.>>
> =20
> The next earliest is from a 7/9/1981 California legal opinion, =
> discussing a drive-by shooting that occurred on 4/17/1980.  Dixon was a =
> Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff assigned to Gang Detail.
> =20
> <<According to Dixon, this "drive-by shooting" is typical of =
> gang-related violence in the East Los Angeles area.
> =20
> . . . .
> =20
> Dixon . . . also knew that gang warfare had heated up since the slaying =
> of Orozco's brother and that the Lote and Mariana gangs in particular =
> were at war and had been involved in a series of drive-by shootings.>>
> =20
> People v. Superior Court, 121 Cal. App. 3d 395, 175 Cal. Rptr. 322 (Cal. =
> App. 1981).
> =20
> Attestations after that gradually pick up.  There are a great many =
> before 1996.
> =20
> =20
> John Baker
> =20
> =20
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: American Dialect Society on behalf of Scot LaFaive
> Sent: Tue 4/1/2008 11:10 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: "drive-by shooting"--- query from National Geographic =
> research editor
>
>
>
> "New Richmond Democrat," New Richmond, WI; July 7, 1876.
>
> "Last night was reported an incident of gunfire on Gorman Avenue. It
> appears local farmer Ezekiel McNally fell to the influences of alcohol
> and made a fool of himself, driving his horse and carriage down Gorman
> Avenue and firing his rifle at shop windows. Mr. McNally caused much
> damage in this drive-by shooting, which he will be made responsible to
> pay."
>
> A rare find indeed, especially today.
>
> Scot
>
>
>
> On Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 9:43 PM, Cohen, Gerald Leonard <gcohen at mst.edu> =
> wrote:
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header =
> -----------------------
> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       "Cohen, Gerald Leonard" <gcohen at MST.EDU>
> > Subject:      Re: "drive-by shooting"--- query from National =
> Geographic
> >              research editor
> > =
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------=
> ------
> >
> > Dear Robin Reid,
> >    I'm forwarding your message to the American Dialect Society's =
> Internet discussion group, whose interests extend to all aspects of =
> English.  At least several members are particularly knowledgeable about =
> early attestations of terms and may be able to help you.
> >
> >   So, ads-l members, would any of you have information on the earliest =
> attestation(s) of "drive-by shooting"?  If so, please respond both to =
> Robin Reid and ads-l. Thanx in advance.
> >
> > Best. --- Gerald Cohen
> > gcohen at mst.edu
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > From: Robin Reid [mailto:rstreid at comcast.net]
> > Sent: Tue 4/1/2008 5:32 PM
> > To: Cohen, Gerald Leonard
> > Subject: query from National Geographic research editor
> >
> >
> >
> > Hello Gerald,
> >
> > My name is Robin Reid, and I'm a research editor for National
> > Geographic magazine. I found you while searching for the origins of
> > the phrase "drive-by shooting." I'm preparing a timeline to illustrate
> > a story we're doing about the impact automobiles have had on society,
> > and my art director wondered if we could pinpoint when the phrase
> > entered the American lexicon.
> >
> > WordOrigins indicates it came about in 1996 along with other drive-
> > bys, but it then referred me to the society's Web site, and drive-by
> > shooting doesn't show up in 1996.
> >
> > Can you help me?
> >
> > Many thanks!
> >
> > Robin Reid
> > 410-435-1284
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org =
> <http://www.americandialect.org/>=20
> >
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org =
> <http://www.americandialect.org/>=20
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org