[Ads-l] Antedating of "What's Up, Doc?"

[Mark Mandel]

But then why "'Doc'", in its own single-quote marks? Unless it was a known
nickname of his, for whatever reason. MAM

On Sun, May 8, 2022, 12:10 PM Wilson Gray <hwgray at gmail.com> wrote:

> > What's up, 'Doc' ?
>
> Given that _Doc_ is separated from the rest of the phrase by quotes, could
> not this also be taken as an early example of simple _What's up?_ as a
> greeting/(rhetorical) question/catch-phrase or some other shxt like 'at?
>
> On Sun, May 8, 2022 at 10:45 AM Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at yale.edu>
> wrote:
>
> > The March 2022 release of new words in the OED spotlights "what's up,
> > doc?," with a first use of 1935.  Here is an earlier citation.  There is
> no
> > reason to believe that Persinger was a doctor.
> >
> > 1882 _Staunton_ (Va.) _Spectator_ 5 Sept. 3/1 (Newspapers.com)  The
> > Alleghany _Tribune_ has this paragraph: "A beautiful black-eyed Staunton
> > lady's presence in Clifton Forge is surmised to be the reason of Capt.
> > Persinger's absence from the Cave at this particular juncture. At all
> > events the smiles of joy that adorned his face evidenced that he was
> > peculiarly satisfied with himself and the rest of mankind on this
> > particular visit. What's up, 'Doc' ?"
> >
> > Fred Shapiro
> >
>
>

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