[Ads-l] "Buffalo Soldier" Not in OED

[Shapiro, Fred]

The term "Buffalo soldier," denoting U.S. Army soldiers in African American regiments, does not appear in OED.  The oldest citation I have found is the following:

1879 Helena Weekly Independent 16 Oct. 2/3 (Newspapers.com)

The Laramie Times says:  The Indians call the colored troops buffalo soldiers, on account of their kinky hair.

Fred Shapiro



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