[Ads-l] Fill (in) the blank(s)

[Steven Losie]

FILL (IN) THE BLANK(S)
Also: Fill the blanks, fill in the blanks, fill up the blanks, fill out the
blanks

This phrase has no OED entry. Merriam-Webster gives the definition: "to put
information into blank spaces: to provide missing information...sometimes
used figuratively." M-W does not give a date of earliest usage.

Surprisingly, in the earliest instance I could find, the phrase is used
somewhat figuratively rather than literally:

[begin quote]
While some (to fill the blanks of their meane story) / Do travell in their
cares, to gaine vaine glory
[end quote]
Source: A sixth booke to the Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (Dublin, 1624),
p.98
Author: Richard Beling
Repository: Internet Archive
Link:
https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_a-sixth-booke-to-the-cou_beling-richard_1624/page/n105/mode/2up

The earliest literal usages I could find:

[begin quote]
That they who are Complainers have a particular care to fill up the Blanks
left in the Bill, in the Subsumptions of the particular faults committed by
the Bishop of the Diocese...
[end quote]
Source: A Large Declaration Concerning the Late Tumults in Scotland, from
Their First Originalls... (London, 1639), p.256
Authors: King Charles I of England, Walter Balcanquhall
Publisher: Robert Young
Repository: Google Books
Link:
https://books.google.com/books?id=i3USOWZ8Yn4C&pg=PA256&dq=%22fill+up+the+blanks%22

[begin quote]
...That the Houses and _Scotts_ Commissioners will please to fill up the
Blanks with the Names of such Persons as they shall think fit...
[end quote]
Source: Journals of the House of Commons, From December the 25th, 1644...To
December the 4th, 1646 (London?, 1646?), p.18
Author: House of Commons
Repository: Google Books
Link:
https://books.google.com/books?id=sxw6AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA18&dq=%22fill+up+the+blanks%22
(The date the phrase was used in the House of Commons was 13 January 1644)

[begin quote]
If the writer of the body of the Writ be not present at the Subscription,
so that another Person fill up the Blanks, and write the Date and witnesses
Names, if he be also a Witness, you say, _____ B. _filler up of the Blanks,
and writer of the Date and witnesses Names._
[end quote]
Source: An Introduction to the Knowledge of the Stile of Writs...
(Edinburgh, 1707), p.222
Author: John Spotiswood
Publisher: Robert Freebairn
Repository: Google Books
Link:
https://books.google.com/books?id=_HdjAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA222&dq=%22fill+up+the+blanks%22

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