Staycation

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Sun, Jul 6, 2008 at 12:10 PM, Bonnie Taylor-Blake
<taylor-blake at nc.rr.com> wrote:
>
> As of last night, there were 203 hits for "staycation" in Factiva (196 in
> 2008, 5 in 2007, 1 in 2006, and 1 in 2005) and 282 in Lexis (274 in 2008, 6
> in 2007, 1 in 2006, and 1 in 2005).  The term was added to the Urban
> Dictionary (online) in 2006; its appearance in 2005 follows [1].
[...]
> [1] [From "Stick around for the Lazy, Hazy Days of August," *The Washington
> Post*, 4 August 2005, Pg. C02.]
>
> We love August because it seems like everyone is gone.  The city empties
> out.  The commute becomes bearable.  It's the perfect time for a
> "staycation," to dig in those heels and enjoy the comforts of home:
> 300-thread-count sheets, stainless outdoor fire pit, well-stocked fridge.

Word Spy has a cite from The Myrtle Beach Sun-News, July 11, 2003:

http://www.wordspy.com/words/staycation.asp

And it appeared online as early as May 5, 1999:

-----
http://www.cruiseopinion.com/celebrityreviews/celebrity-mercury9.htm
Name: C. McGowan
Email: cmcg219 at aol.com
Age: 33
Date: 05 May 1999
Time: 21:11:49
Hello, Cruisers! Finally back from a stay-cation in Palm Beach
immediately following our Feb. cruise so ... sorry so belated!
-----
Also quoted here:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.travel.cruises/msg/c8c688c3ffa08972


--Ben Zimmer

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