[Ads-l] Antedating of "Signifying," Adj. (African-American Slang)

[Shapiro, Fred]

signifying, adj. (OED, 3., 1947)

1945 _Plaindealer_ (Kansas City, Kan.) 16 Feb. 3/2 (America's Historical Newspapers)

Always go to Jean's Barbeque and get your radio-water, it makes you broadcast over stations-i-g-n-i-f-y! I'll say it's worse than the signifying monkey. The crowingest chick on the scene Sunday was Georgia Stallings.

Fred Shapiro

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