[Ads-l] Antedating of "Ump"

[Ben Zimmer]

On Tue, Aug 9, 2022 at 3:16 PM Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at yale.edu> wrote:

> ump (OED 1915)
>
> 1888 New York Press 3 June in Edward J. Nichols An Historical Dictionary
> of Baseball Terminology 83 (1939)
>

Presumably the Nichols cite is for "ump" as a noun. Dickson has a slightly
earlier cite for "ump" as a verb (provided by David Shulman) from the Apr.
18, 1888 Cincinnati Times-Star. And here's the verb from even earlier:

---
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107309094/ump-the-coming-season/
Hutchinson (Kans.) News, Apr. 1, 1888, p. 3, col. 2
Umpire Jones, who has been In the hospital for the last three years on
account of injuries received in umpiring the great game between
Skeeterville and the Baptist Neighborhood, is out once more soliciting
employment. He says he will ump the coming season at reduced rates. --Texas
Siftings.
---

--bgz

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