[Ads-l] Further Antedating of "Truck," v. (of a person}

Peter Reitan pjreitan at HOTMAIL.COM
Mon Jun 23 20:38:24 UTC 2025


I believe "trucked over" in this sense may not be the same as the "walking" sense of trucking.

The player is carrying a football.  Carrying a load, and delivering it, as would a deliveryman using a truck.

There are several sports-writing examples of "trucked over" relating to football in the years prior to this 1934 citation. Searching newspapers.com for "trucked over" and "touchdown."

"a pass from Royal to Goodman was trucked over."  New Journal and Guide, Norfolk, Virginia, October 13, 1934, page 15.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-journal-and-guide/175132331/

"Cornet trucked over tackle for a touchdown." Daily News-Journal, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, November 6, 1933, page 1.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal/175132497/

"Wineinger trucked it over for the extra point."  The Whittier News, California, September 21 1935, page 6.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-whittier-news/175132852/

"Shorty Corn, Lexington quarterback, trucked it back to the ten." Charlotte News, North Carolina, November 29, 1934, page 8.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-news/175133729/

"Raymer intercepted a Lexington pass and trucked 25 yards to the enemy 40." Charlotte News, North Carolina, November 29, 1934, page 8.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-news/175133851/


Slightly later. "The Mouse, catching the spiral, trucked the ball 35 yards up the field to the Vol 42, Harp made six, then dropped back to pass."  The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tennessee, November 17, 1935, page 21.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal/175133195/

In any case, it seems at least uncertain whether it is an antedating of the sense of "trucking" being discussed.




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From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU>
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Subject: Further Antedating of "Truck," v. (of a person}

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Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
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truck (OED v.2 3.a. [of a person], 1938)

1934 Afro-American (Baltimore) 3 Nov. 20 (ProQuest)

Big Murrell trucked over for the second touchdown.

Fred Shapiro

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