"on the double"

[Baker, John]

        Google Books has multiple instances of "on the double-quick" from 1863 and later; this presumably is the origin of "on the double."  The 19th century "double-quick," which is in the OED, apparently was replaced by "double-time," which may be part of the reason that it's only the shortened form that's familiar today.  I rather like "double-quick"; it's too bad the more pedestrian "double-time" prevailed.


John Baker



-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Jonathan Lighter
Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2008 10:34 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: "on the double"

Astoundingly, not in OED (though the considerably earlier "at the double" is at _double_. 3.i.):

1918 James Belton & E. G. Odell _Hunting the Hun_ (N.Y.: D. Appleton) 49: Stretcher bearer, stretcher bearer, on the double.

Belton and Odell were officers in the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

JL

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