[Ads-l] Antedating of "Main Man"

[mr_peter_morris@outlook.com]

https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/In_Equity_American_Bell_Telephone_Compan/4hE4AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22my+main+man%22&pg=PA503&printsec=frontcover

Letter sent January 1886 quoted in book published 1888

"Give my respects to Dr T_____. Tell him he is my main man."


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https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Train_and_Bank_Robbers_of_the_West/FuANAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22my+main+man%22&pg=RA2-PA80&printsec=frontcover

I'm not sure what this one from 1875 means. I think it
probably isn't the correct sense, but submitted for
consideration.






------ Original Message ------
From "Shapiro, Fred" <00001ac016895344-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
To ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Date 06/08/2025 02:39:08
Subject Antedating of "Main Man"

>main man (OED 1956)
>
>1925 Howard W. Odom The Negro and His Songs (ProQuest)
>
>(song)  Looked Down De Road ... If my kind man quit me, my main man throw me down, I goin' run to de river, jump overboard 'n' drown.
>
>Fred Shapiro
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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