[Ads-l] Antedating of "fraid cat" and "fraidy cat/fraidie cat"

[Steven Losie]

FRAID CAT (OED3, 1888)

[begin quote]
"Why, father, she might have known I would not hurt them. What a
_fraid-cat_ she was."

"What is a '_fraid-cat_,' Hattie?"

"Why, don't you know, father? Why, it's what Caddy, and Frank, and I are,
when we are such silly children as to be frightened when nothing is the
matter: then we call each other 'fraid-cats.'"
[end quote]
Source: Robert Merry's Museum (New York, NY), Vol.18, p.68, col.1
Date: July 1849 - January 1850
Article title: Love Your Enemies
Author: Annie Armstrong
Database: Archive.org
https://archive.org/details/sim_merrys-museum_july-1849-january-1850_18/page/68/mode/2up

[begin quote]
"Oh ho!" cried Pinkey, "he's afraid, he's afraid! See the little 'fraid
cat.[..."]
[end quote]
Source: The Christian Register (Boston, Mass.), 5 Sept 1868, p.4, col.7
Article title: Mr. Mudfoot. A Story For Boys.
Author: P. Thorne
Database: America’s Historical Newspapers (Readex/NewsBank)

[begin quote]
"Oh, you 'fraid cat,["] cried Spotty; "yes, that you are. I heard the
stable-boy say all cats your color are cowards. You look more like a mouse
than a cat."
[end quote]
Source: Semi-Weekly Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Wisc.), 7 Apr 1869, p.4, col.5
Article title: Juvenile Selections. The Four Kittens.
Author: Aunt Nell
Database: Newspapers.com

[begin quote]
Ho, ho! What a fraid-cat you are, Rose!
[end quote]
Source: Our Boys and Girls (Oliver Optic's Magazine), (Boston, Mass.), 24
Apr 1869, vol.V, No.121, p.265, col.2
Article title: Rose and the May-Flowers
Author: J.G. Austin
Database: ProQuest Historical Newspapers

FRAIDY CAT / FRAIDIE CAT
OED's first attestation is "c.1910-23".

[begin quote]
"Go 'long, fraidy-cat, you're a regular baby to let that little bird scare
you," come from the foot of the tree.
[end quote]
Source: Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Ark.), 12 May 1889, p.6, col.2
Article title: Children's Corner
Database: Newspapers.com

[begin quote]
"Come on, fraidy cats," ordered Charlie, valiantly.
[end quote]
Source: North Nebraska Eagle (Dakota City, Neb.), 12 Dec 1889, p.10, col.5
Article title: Uncle Eph's Dinner
Author: W.E. Tyler
Database: Newspapers.com

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