In drag = disguised

[Arnold Zwicky]

On Jan 20, 2010, at 2:17 AM, Jesse Sheidlower wrote:

> On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 12:15:03AM -0800, Benjamin Barrett wrote:
>> In a discussion about the computer language VBA, I found this:
>>
>> Date variables are really Doubles in drag.
>>
>> (http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.word.vba.general/browse_thread/thread/a53432b7778e7bf0?hl=en
>> )
>>
>> Both date variables and doubles are data types.
>>
>> Interesting extension.
>
> HDAS has an example of figurative _drag_ 'disguise' from 1966,
> in _Time_. There's a 1959 example (from OED) as well, but
> there referring to an actual physical disguise, so perhaps
> less of an extension.

there are also examples of "X drag" extended to cover costume rather
than actual disguise.  i have been known to say that i was "in
professor drag", for instance. plenty of relevant hits for "wearing *
drag" not referring to cross-dressing *or* disguise (but guise, maybe).

arnold

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