[Ads-l] Antedating of "whirlybird"

[Steven Losie]

WHIRLYBIRD (helicopter) (OED3, n., 1951)

[begin quote]
At 12:30 p.m. today, a 'copter was scheduled to pick up mail from the roof
of the Sears' Pico store for delivery to Lockheed Air terminal. On
succeeding days, the whirly-birds will pick up mail loads from the May Co.
Wilshire, Bullocks, Broadway and Golden Gate Insurance Co. stores.
[end quote]

Source: "Aerial Postmen Feted In Week-Long Rites", Valley Times (North
Hollywood, CA), 28 October 1946, p.3, col.5 (newspapers.com)
Link: https://www.newspapers.com/image/579950819/

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