[Ads-l] "mug shot" (1935)

Wed Apr 5 14:46:37 UTC 2023

Earlier cites for the verb "mug":

---
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122314965/mugged-in-police-parlance/
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Aug. 20, 1872, p. 3, col. 1
She was (in police parlance), "mugged" this morning, that is, she had her
picture taken and added to the rogues' gallery.
---
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122315099/mugged-for-the-rogues-gallery/
Buffalo Evening Post, Feb. 6, 1875, p. 3, col, 1
The faces above related, with reference to Johnston's movements were
obtained in an interview which our reporter had with the prisoner this
morning, upon his being brought back from a photograph gallery where he had
been "mugged" for the rogues gallery at police headquarters.
---

And earlier still for the noun (when its meaning shifted from "face" to
"photograph or likeness of a face"):

---
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122315442/his-mug-was-taken/
National Republican (Washington, DC), Feb. 6, 1863, p. 3, col. 1
Prior to his being committed, by order of Superintendent Webb his "mug" was
taken and placed In the "rogues' gallery."
---
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122315760/have-his-mug-taken/
National Republican (Washington, DC), Mar. 28, 1863, p. 2, col. 6
When asked by the superintendent if he would consent to have his mug taken,
he refused. [...] His mug graces the Rogues' gallery.
---

On Wed, Apr 5, 2023 at 1:38 AM ADSGarson O'Toole <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Here is an earlier instance of the verb "to mug". There are so many
> possible expressions for the verb that I will stop here.
>
> Date: February 15, 1895
> Newspaper: The Cincinnati Enquirer
> Newspaper Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
> Article: A Mob of "Guns"
> Quote Page 8, Column 5
> Database: Newspapers.com
> https://www.newspapers.com/image/32406978/
>
> [Begin excerpt]
> One day a young fellow was caught picking a pocket In a Main-street
> dry goods store. He gave the name of William Scott. He was "mugged"
> and released to get out of town.
> [End excerpt]
>
> Garson
>
> On Wed, Apr 5, 2023 at 1:22 AM ADSGarson O'Toole
> <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Great work, Peter and Ben. Here is the verb “to mug” with the
> > pertinent sense in 1896.
> >
> > Date: September 09, 1896
> > Newspaper: The Herald (Los Angeles Herald)
> > Newspaper Location: Los Angeles, California
> > Article: Gradually Getting Settled
> > Quote Page 3, Column 3
> > Database: Newspapers.com
> > https://www.newspapers.com/image/80589735/
> >
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > The official photographer has placed his camera and apparatus ready
> > for use in the gallery and from now on the criminals will be "mugged"
> > within the jail.
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> > Garson
> >
> > On Wed, Apr 5, 2023 at 12:57 AM Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > Yes, the photographic sense of the verb "mug" can be found in the OED
> from
> > > 1899, defined as "to photograph the face of (a person), esp. for
> police or
> > > other official records" (v.4 def 4).
> > >
> > > On Tue, Apr 4, 2023 at 11:51 PM Peter Reitan <pjreitan at hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> > >
> > > > If you search for mug and mugging between 1900 and 1930s, in
> conjunction w
> > > > "Rogue's gallery," you find many examples of the verb "to mug" used
> to
> > > > refer to the act of taking a rogue's photo.
> > > > ________________________________
> > > > From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf
> of Ben
> > > > Zimmer <bgzimmer at GMAIL.COM>
> > > > Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2023 8:45:31 PM
> > > > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > > Subject: Re: "mug shot" (1935)
> > > >
> > > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > > > -----------------------
> > > > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > > Poster:       Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at GMAIL.COM>
> > > > Subject:      Re: "mug shot" (1935)
> > > >
> > > >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for these great finds, Garson! I'm writing about the history
> of "mug
> > > > shot" for my Wall Street Journal column this week, and these
> examples help
> > > > fill out the picture.
> > > >
> > > > --bgz
> > > >
> > > > On Tue, Apr 4, 2023 at 10:46=E2=80=AFPM ADSGarson O'Toole
> <adsgarsonotoole@
> > > > =
> > > > gmail.com>
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Here is =E2=80=9Cmug shot=E2=80=9D with the pertinent sense in
> 1899, I
> > > > th=
> > > > ink. Please
> > > > > double check the scan and metadate before using this citation.
> > > > >
> > > > > Date: March 01, 1899
> > > > > Newspaper: The Chicago Daily News
> > > > > Newspaper Location: Chicago, Illinois
> > > > > Article: War Rages With Urchins
> > > > > Quote Page 3, Column 2
> > > > > Database: GenealogyBank
> > > > >
> > > > > [Begin excerpt - double check because text is degraded and
> difficult to
> > > > > read]
> > > > > They are afraid of nothing except the "copper." And even when he
> gets
> > > > > through with them they mock him behind his back.
> > > > > "Hully gee! mister, are you going to put my mug shot in de paper?"
> > > > > said one of them to an artist who was sketching him. "Well, I'll be
> > > > > blowed. When does it come out?"
> > > > > [End excerpt]
> > > > >
> > > > > Garson
> > > > >
> > > > > On Tue, Apr 4, 2023 at 10:23=E2=80=AFPM ADSGarson O'Toole
> > > > > <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Here is another interesting instance in 1873 showing the
> evolution of
> > > > > =E2=80=9Cmug=E2=80=9D.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Newspaper: Chicago Daily Tribune
> > > > > > Newspaper: Location: Chicago, Illinois
> > > > > > Date: August 22, 1873
> > > > > > Article: "Stop Thief"
> > > > > > Quote Page 7, Column 2
> > > > > > https://www.newspapers.com/image/349288037/
> > > > > >
> > > > > > [Begin excerpt - check for typos]
> > > > > > His preliminary examination resulted in his being held for trial.
> > > > > > Yesterday morning he was taken, with three other prisoners, to
> the,
> > > > > > photograph, or, as it is sometimes called, the "mug," gallery,
> that
> > > > > > his prepossessing countenance might be forever preserved in the
> album
> > > > > > at Police Headquarters. The operator, having succeeded in
> securing his
> > > > > > negative, Keenan was given to Detective Lacky, with orders to
> take him
> > > > > > to jail.
> > > > > > [End excerpt]
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Garson
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On Tue, Apr 4, 2023 at 10:11=E2=80=AFPM ADSGarson O'Toole
> > > > > > <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Here is a citation in 1867 that I think is interesting because
> it
> > > > > > > illustrates how the term evolved.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > =E2=80=9Cmugs=E2=80=9D refers to the face of a criminal suspect
> > > > photo=
> > > > graphed by police
> > > > > > > for a rogues gallery.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Date: June 21, 1867
> > > > > > > Newspaper: The National Republican
> > > > > > > Newspaper Location: Washington, District of Columbia
> > > > > > > Article; Attempt at Burglary and Arrest
> > > > > > > Quote Page 3, Column 5
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/81173989/
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > [Begin excerpt]
> > > > > > > Justice Harper, before whom they were taken, sent them to jail
> to
> > > > > > > await the action of the grand jury. Their "mugs" were
> photographed
> > > > an=
> > > > d
> > > > > > > placed in the rogues' gallery among others of their prototypes.
> > > > > > > [End excerpt]
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Garson
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > On Tue, Apr 4, 2023 at 9:20=E2=80=AFPM Ben Zimmer <
> > > > bgzimmer at gmail.com=
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > The OED3 entry for "mug" dates the meaning "a photograph or
> other
> > > > > likeness
> > > > > > > > of a person's face, esp. in police or other official
> records" (def
> > > > > 1c) to
> > > > > > > > 1887. The phrase "mug shot" with the same meaning is dated
> to 1950,
> > > > > but
> > > > > > > > here are a couple of antedatings from 1935.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > ---
> > > > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122288305/city-now-has-its-own-plant-for-=
> > > > mug/
> > > > <
> https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122288305/city-now-has-its-own-plant-for-=mug/
> >
> > > > > > > > Waco (Tex.) News-Tribune, Oct. 3, 1935, p. 10, col. 2
> > > > > > > > "City Now Has Its Own Plant for 'Mug' Shots"
> > > > > > > > The Waco police department now has its own film developing
> plant,
> > > > f=
> > > > or
> > > > > > > > finishing pictures of prisoners who are "mugged" by Lieut.
> Sam
> > > > > Fuller of
> > > > > > > > the police identification bureau.
> > > > > > > > ---
> > > > > > > > San Francisco Chronicle, Dec. 12, 1935, p. 17, col. 2
> > > > [Genealogyban=
> > > > k]
> > > > > > > > Henry Sutherland, "Previewed During the Week by Hollywood
> > > > Appraiser=
> > > > "
> > > > > > > > [Description of the film "The Case of the Missing Man"]
> > > > > > > > Yearning to become an arty photographer, Roger gives up
> working for
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > > gazettes and sets up a fancy shop. He's reduced at length to
> > > > > snapping "mug
> > > > > > > > shots" of passers-by at two bits a copy, the payoff coming
> when his
> > > > > > > > abandoned news nose quivers accurately and one of his
> pictures
> > > > trap=
> > > > s
> > > > > a
> > > > > > > > dangerous criminal.
> > > > > > > > ---
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > There are numerous examples of "mug shot" from 1936 and
> later, but
> > > > > in the
> > > > > > > > pre-1935 results that I've seen, "shot" can be interpreted
> as a
> > > > pas=
> > > > t
> > > > > > > > participle, as in "get/have your mug shot" (with "mug"
> construed as
> > > > > OED3
> > > > > > > > def 1c).
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> > > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org