[Ads-l] Major Antedating of "Pass" (To Be Accepted or Represent Oneself as a White Person)

[Mark Mandel]

Impressive antedate!

Mark Mandel

On Sat, Dec 28, 2024, 4:08 PM Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at yale.edu> wrote:

> pass, v. (OED, IX.43.d., 1929)
>
> 1803 Alexandria Advertiser and Commercial Intelligencer 30 July 3/3
> (Newspapers.com)  RANAWAY from the Subscriber ... a bright Mulatto servant,
> named GEORGE ... He is an artful fellow, and may attempt to pass himself as
> a white man.
>
> 1804 Alexandria Gazette 17 July 4/3 (Newspapers.com)  Andrew absconded on
> the night of the 7th instant ... he ... will attempt to pass for a free
> white man.
>
> 1809 Alexandrea Gazette 28 Apr. 4/2 (Newspapers.com)  RAN AWAY, from the
> subscribers, two Slaves, named BILLY and NELLY ... it is very probable
> Billy will attempt to pass as a white man.
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
>
>
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> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>

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