[Ads-l] Antedating of "Cold War" in General Sense

[Shapiro, Fred]

The OED's first use for "cold war" is dated 1945.  Searches of newspapers and periodicals make it clear that there was earlier usage in a general sense, referring to a conflict fought by nonmilitary means rather than to the specific sense of a struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union.  (The OED recognizes this general usage in its definition, but does not present any early citations for it.)  I have previously traced the general usage back to the Nation in 1938, but here are some older occurrences:

1934 _Charlotte News_ 11 Aug. 1 / 4 (Newspapers.com)  Calling  truce to the cold war between science and religion, a state medical authority today recognized "faith" as an important factor in what he termed an "excellent chance" for the recovery of Albert Teester.

1934 _Standard-Star_ (New Rochelle, N.Y.) 4 Dec. 4/3 (Newspapers.com)  The pressing danger is not that of international war, but of a series of revolutions or cold wars due to the steady increasing misery prevailing in various countries.  It has been evident for some time that the only escape is the economic recovery which would result from a revival of world trade. ... Dr. Charles B. Babcock, resident head of Carnegie Endowment Work in Paris.

1935 _Jewish Press_ 20 Dec. 1/6 (Newspapers.com)  The virtual admission that Germany is on the verge of economic collapse was made by Mr. Ley, who said that such a situation was "due to the cold war Jews abroad are conducting to destroy the Reich by boycotting German goods."

There may very well be even earlier citations that can be found by newspaper searching, but, because of Newspapers.com's annoying habit of retrieving citations for "cold wave" and "cold water" when "cold war" is searched, the quest for prior cites will have to be done by someone with more time on their hands than I have.

Fred Shapiro


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