[Ads-l] cotton-pickin(g)

[Pete Morris]

What is currently known about the origin of Cotton-pickin(g) as a term?

Etymology Online says:

https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=cotton-picking

as a deprecatory term first recorded in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, but a 
similar noun cotton-picker meaning "contemptible person" dates to around 
1919, perhaps with racist overtones that have faded over the years. 
Before mechanization, cotton picking was the most difficult labor on a 
plantation.

I've seen the Bugs Bunny claim all over the internet. The specific 
cartoon isn't identified.

But I've found two examples from 20+ years before Bugs. Is this an 
antedating?



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https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt/search?q1=%22cotton-pickin+chicken+stealer%22&id=inu.32000000494254&view=1up&seq=508&num=26

"You cotton-pickin chicken stealer " he howls.

Short story : Cutey and The Beast
The American Magazine
May 1917

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https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt/search?q1=%22You+cotton-pickin%27%2C+stump-jumpin%27%2C+ridge-runnin%27%2C+moon-+shiner%22&id=uc1.ax0003459823&view=1up&seq=9


"You cotton-pickin', stump-jumpin', ridge-runnin', moon- shiner"

Article: Hoo's Hoo Column and Hoo said it.
History of Company A : 307th Engineer Regiment.
1919



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