OED antedating -- nick v2

[Jesse Sheidlower]

Thanks for this, Robin. I've checked it on EEBO and sent it on
to the UK; someone who spends more time with Early Modern
English will probably look it over and make the call.

Best,

Jesse

On Mon, Mar 22, 2010 at 05:30:41PM -0000, Robin Hamilton wrote:
> OED has:  NICK v2
>
> 8. trans.
>
>    a. To designate or call (a person or thing) with (occas. by, in, etc.) a
> particular name. Obs.
>
> 1589 J. LYLY Pappe with Hatchet B iv, If anie be vnchristened, Ile nicke him
> with a name.
> ...
>
>    b. To call by some name; to nickname. Obs.
>
> 1634 J. FORD Chron. Hist. Perkin Warbeck IV. sig. Hv, Warbecke as you nicke
> him, came to me.
>
>        -- While possibly falling within 8a., the following from _Westward
> Ho_ (c. 1604) would seem to be closer to 8b., and thus antedate the Ford
> citation:
>
> "
> Goz.:  I wud proue 'hem Mother best be trust: why doe not I know you Granam?
> and that Suger-loafe? ha! doe I not _Magera_.
> Bird.:  I am none of your Megges, do not nick-name me so: I will not be
> nickt.
> "
>
> [Gozling is a knight, and Birdlime a [disguised] bawd.  There's probably a
> double allusion around "Megges" above  -- "Meg" as a woman's name (Long Meg
> of Winchester had been mentioned in the play not long before)  and "meg" as
> a cant term for a guinea.]
>
> Robin
>
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