Silver bullet (figurative 1945)

[Baker, John]

        I don't know about werewolves specifically, but belief in the
efficacy of silver bullets long predates 1933.  The following refers to
allegations by Titus Oates that Catholic plotters sought to assassinate
Charles II with a silver bullet in 1678:

This Bullet, as Learn'd _Titus_ said,
Was of the Lunar-Metal made,
'Cause champed Silver kills Stone-dead
Such as are Musquet-Proof 'gainst Lead.

Thomas Ward, England's Reformation 192 - 93 (1719) (date of 1710 in
foreword) (Google Books).


John Baker


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
Of Jonathan Lighter
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2011 9:50 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: Silver bullet (figurative 1945)

Werewolves are supposedly quelled by silver bullets, but I suspect this
is a post-Ranger (i.e., post-1933) belief.

In moderate confirmation, Wiki-wacki says the silver bullet's
anti-werewolf
properties were not known till 1936:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_G%C3%A9vaudan.

JL

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