[Ads-l] "great unwashed"

[Bill Mullins]

The wikipedia article on Edward Bulwer-Lytton (whose birthday was yesterday) credits him with coining the phrase "the great unwashed" in his 1830 novel Paul Clifford​.

1829 London Standard 22 Jan 3/2

We have just returned from a walk through part of Dame-street, and such a congregation of foul and fetid smells -- such a compositioni of the "great unwashed" has not been exhibited in this metropolis within our recollection.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/409659558/?terms=%22great%20unwashed%22&match=1

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