[Ads-l] Antedating of American Sense of the Word "Football"

[Shapiro, Fred]

football (OED, 2.b., 1881)

1880 _Sun_ (N.Y.) 14 Nov. 5/5 (Newspapers.com)  The American Association game, under the new rules of 1880, was exemplified yesterday afternoon on the field of the Manhattan Polo Association ... It was the first match of the series for the championship of the College Football Association.

NOTE: There are earlier uses of the word "football" in the context of U.S. intercollegiate games, but the OED clearly is restricting this sense to the sport subsequent to the rules changes that were completed on 12 Oct. 1880.

Fred Shapiro

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