[Ads-l] rhubarb

[Bill Mullins]

The OED blog mentions that they are working on M - R, and note that "rhubarb" v (stage actors mumbling "rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb" to simulate the sound of background conversation) has been antedated.

They have 1926 for the noun sense of the word.

1919  _Motion Picture Magazine_ Feb.  37/1
He didn't carry a spear in this dramatic masterpiece, probably because there were no spears to carry, but he did grumble, "Rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb" off stage to make up the angry mob.

https://ia800208.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?id=motionpicturemag17moti&itemPath=%2F5%2Fitems%2Fmotionpicturemag17moti&server=ia800208.us.archive.org&page=leaf0043_s4


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