[Ads-l] Antedating of "Cool Cat"

[Shapiro, Fred]

cool cat (OED 1942)

1939 California Eagle 20 Apr. 8-A/4 (Newspapers.com)  Wonder does Jean Morris give all the girls the same line of "Jive?" ... of Helen Collins having a new boy friend: they say his names [sic] is "Ice Water," a cool cat, I suppose.

1940 Omaha Star 22 Nov. 6 (Newspapers.com)  JIVIN' WITH JIMMY ... The Omaha Boys are said to be some of the best truck drivers in Co. 786: Percy Johnson (the Ace boy), James Williams (they are cool cats.)

1941 Pittsburgh Courier 26 Apr. 18/7 (Newspapers.com)  From these co-eds come such enthusiastic outbursts as "marvelous, superb, sharp, and can't be beat," with special allusions to "cool cat" Frank Wilbour.

Fred Shapiro


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