"ass" as pronominal emphasizer, 1863

[Jonathan Lighter]

HDAS has this even earlier, but pre-1940 exx. are very, very uncommon.
 
1863 E. W. Goble, in Michael J. Bennett _Union Jacks_ (Chapel Hill: U.N.C.P., 2004) 116: I told him no that I would see the Admiral in h--l befour I would do it after the remark he had made the d-----d dirty Son of a B-----, I hope that a 64 [-pounder shell] will wipe out his 
a--  befour he gets back.
 
Goble was a seaman on board U.S.S. _Forest Rose_.  Ship's photo and career here: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-f/forst-rs.htm
 
JL




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