[Ads-l] Antedating of "Upset" (Unexpected Victory)

[Shapiro, Fred]

upset (OED, n. 6.e., 1921)

1892 _Chicago Tribune_ 21 June 11 / 4 (Newspapers.com)
(heading)  Lovelace's Upset.

1900 _Detroit Free Press_ 29 July 8/5 (Newspapers.com)
These upsets followed victories.

NOTE:  In 1919, a horse named Upset pulled off one of the greatest upsets in history by giving Man o' War the latter's only defeat.  The citations above dispel any possibility that the term "upset" was inspired by the Man o' War loss.

Fred Shapiro


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