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

[Laurence Horn]

Too bad, given the citation gap, that we can't credit Captain Persinger as
being the original Doc, but it's not too plausible that we could stretch
the causal chain (implicit Saul Kripke shout-out) from the good Captain to
Bugs and beyond...

LH

On Mon, May 9, 2022 at 9:50 AM Mark Mandel <markamandel at gmail.com> wrote:

> And that, I think, puts a cap on the whole question. Nice research, all!
>
> MAM
>
> On Mon, May 9, 2022, 8:27 AM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > "What's up?" antedates 1850 in both Britain and America.
> >
> > Just sayin'.
> >
> > JL
> >
> >
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of
> Ben
> > > Zimmer <bgzimmer at GMAIL.COM>
> > > Sent: Sunday, May 8, 2022 2:56 PM
> > > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > Subject: Re: Antedating of "What's Up, Doc?"
> > >
> > > "Doc" indeed was a known nickname for Capt. Persinger, as noted in this
> > > item from the Staunton (Va.) Spectator from Dec. 1872.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Fclip%2F2218331%2F1872-dec-george-persinger-also%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfred.shapiro%40YALE.EDU%7Cf4682525e20447ac6a1a08da312483ae%7Cdd8cbebb21394df8b4114e3e87abeb5c%7C0%7C0%7C637876330305957786%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=o0ULgFsT4VcoyPElw%2BW2OzRmVVu%2BSfZpOaa5xF1wdrI%3D&reserved=0
> > >
> >
> > > > > 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' ?"
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
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> > >
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> > >
> >
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