[Ads-l] Antedating of "Hip"

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Fred Shapiro wrote:
> Outstanding discovery on "hip," Stephen !  Was that on Newspaperarchive ?

Great citation, Stephen. The citation is accessible via GenealogyBank.

Date: October 28, 1902
Newspaper: The Denver Post
Newspaper Location: Denver, Colorado
Article: Circus Slang Softened Heart of Jimmie Downs
Quote Page 16, Column 2
Database: GenealogyBank

[Begin excerpt]
"To define some of the circus slang the
following schedule may be found useful:
"Silver man" is a short change artist.
"Turning a mitt" or "crimping a bank
roll" is to palm a piece of money when
handing back change.
"Hip" means you are wise or "on."
[End excerpt]

Garson

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