"Sambo" 1657, antedates OED 1704-

[Joel S. Berson]

It has just come to my attention that the OED contains the very of
one of my 1657 citations from Ligon, this one of "wore black, or eat
green" -- but for "green", not "Sambo"!

Joel

At 9/11/2008 01:01 PM, Joel S. Berson wrote:
>I will ask on a list that might have experts on the period and
>location, but in the meanwhile:
>
>At 9/11/2008 10:33 AM, Baker, John wrote:
>>         I had supposed that "wore black" referred to clerical attire
>>(i.e., that Sambo was as moral as a clergyman),
>
>Possibly, but my sense of the period says skin color is more
>likely.  Also: "Sambo" was apparently part of a group of "axe-men"
>helping to cut a road.  Ligon writes, between the "compass"
>demonstration and the "wore black" text, that Sambo "desired me, that
>he might be made a Christian; for, he thought to be a Christian, was
>to be endued with all those knowledges he wanted."  So Sambo is not
>described as moral, but just wanting knowledge.
>
>>but "eat green" was a
>>complete mystery
>>
>>         It's interesting to see how old "Sambo" is.  Is this originally
>>an African name?
>
>I think there is dispute about the etymology; wasn't there something
>earlier this year on this list?  The OED takes its etymology as "[a.
>Sp. zambo, applied in America and Asia to persons of various degrees
>of mixed Negro and Indian or European blood; also, a name for a kind
>of yellow monkey; perh. identical with zambo bandy-legged (according
>to Diez repr. L. scambus).]"  There is a slight hint that the author
>of the article that pointed me to the 1657 citation thinks "Sambo"
>derives from an Akan day name; others on this list probably know more.
>
>Joel
>
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