porno as a count noun

[Baker, John]

The Shel Silverstein song is "Polly in a Porny."
 
The earliest I see of "porno" as a count noun is from 1984, quoting an oral statement from 1980:  "They told her that she was going to make a "video porno" for them, which they intended to sell."  State v. Chandler, 19 Ohio App.3d 109, 483 N.E.2d 192 (1984).
 
It's older as a non-count noun.  From Paul Zindel, And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little (produced 1967, published 1971):  "During his first year in junior high he's taken dope, sold porno, and drew pictures of rhinoceri fornicating on the cover of his world geography text book."
 
I think that it's older as a modifier, but I don't have any verified dates.
 
 
John Baker
 

________________________________

From: American Dialect Society on behalf of Dan Goodman
Sent: Thu 11/13/2008 11:09 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: porno as a count noun




"As for 'controversial' songs and albums nominations, an ancient album
from early 70's "Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball' by Shel Silverstein has
tracks like 'Don't Give A Dose To The One You Love Most' and 'I Saw
Polly In A Porno With a Pony'"


--
Dan Goodman

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