[Ads-l] 'la-di-da' antedate (OED c1883); 'la-di-da-di' 1879

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Here is the pertinent information from the OED.

[Begin excerpt from OED]
la-di-da, n.
Etymology: Onomatopoeic, in ridicule of ‘swell’ modes of utterance.
Compare haw-haw v.
slang.
   A derisive term for one who affects gentility; a ‘swell’. Also
attributive or adj.= lardy-dardy adj.
c1883   in Atkin House Scraps (1887) 166   The young 'un goes to
music-halls And does the la-di-da.
1893   A. C. Gunter Baron Montez iii. viii. 77   That French brother
of his, Frank, the Parisian la-de-da.

[Begin excerpt from OED]
la-di-da, v.
intransitive. To use affected manners or speech.
1901   Notes & Queries 6 July 20/2   I like to la-di-da with the ladies.
[End excerpt]

On Tue, Dec 6, 2022 at 9:32 PM ADSGarson O'Toole
<adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> James and Peter: Great citations for a difficult term with many spellings.
> The OED has the verb form of "la-di-da" with a first citation dated 1901.
> Here is the verb form in a song title in 1868:  "TO LA-DE-DA-DA WITH
> THE LADIES."
>
> Date: December 28, 1868
> Newspaper: The Liverpool Albion
> Newspaper Location: Lancashire, England
> Article: (Advertisement for Prince of Wales Theatre)
> Quote Page 1, Column 2
> Database: British Newspaper Archive
>
> [Begin excerpt]
> PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.
> Enormous Success of the Great PANTOMIME SHADOW SCENE.
>
> "UP IN A BALLOON," Encored Nightly. Sung by Messrs. Arnott, Wyke
> Moore, Cahill; Misses Johnstone, Leicester, White, Anstiss, Lizzie
> Willmore.
>
> THE LORD MAYOR'S PRIZE DONKEY AND STATE CARRIAGE exhibited Every
> Evening at THE PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.
>
> "TO LA-DE-DA-DA WITH THE LADIES." Encored Nightly. Sung by Messrs.
> Amott, Basil Rivers, Wyke Moore, Cahill; Misses Johnstone, Leicester,
> White, Anstiss. Lizzie Wilmore.
> [End excerpt]
>
> Garson
>
> On Tue, Dec 6, 2022 at 5:55 PM Peter Reitan <pjreitan at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > 1875 in New Zealand,  "a swell of the Lah-de-dah type."
> >
> > https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114217673/the-daily-southern-cross/
> > ________________________________
> > From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of James Eric Lawson <jel at NVENTURE.COM>
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 6, 2022 2:39:04 PM
> > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Subject: 'la-di-da' antedate (OED c1883); 'la-di-da-di' 1879
> >
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       James Eric Lawson <jel at NVENTURE.COM>
> > Subject:      'la-di-da' antedate (OED c1883); 'la-di-da-di' 1879
> > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > 1880  _Daily News_ (London, England) LA-DI-DA! or, the CITY TOFF. 11 May 8/7
> >
> > https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114204584/la-di-da/
> >
> > 1879  _Liverpool Echo_ A "LA-DI-DA-DI" JOKE DURING THE FOG. 13 Dec 1879 4/1
> >
> > https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114204298/la-di-da-di/
> >
> > --
> > James Eric Lawson
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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