[Ads-l] Slight Further Antedating of "Spoof"

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Here is the full article for the "spoof" citation found by Fred.

Date: July 26, 1884
Newspaper: The Sporting Times (The "Pink 'Un")
Newspaper Location: London, England
Section: Sporting Notes
Quote Page 1, Column 4
Database: British Newspaper Archive

[Begin excerpt - please double-check]
We have been asked by several ignorant
correspondents to enlighten them on the
subject of the grand old national pastime
of "Spoof," which has been mentioned
in this paper. Merely pausing to say
that anyone writing "Spouf" is a liar
and assassin, we proceed to say that the
game is of Anglo-Saxon origin, having
been invented by the anonymous cad, who
hasc ome (sic) down to posterity as the husband
of Lady Godiva. The derivation is obscure,
but the name may be the offspring of an
attempt to say "S-pooh-pooh-f" during
supper at the Adelphi Club, where this
game is played to perfection. We have
received a copy of the rules of the game,
drawn up by the Gasper, who is President
of the Ancient Guild of Spoof-Smiths,
together with an application for our annual
subscription. We print the rules, and
will consider the subscription at our
leisure:-

1. No cards, counters, or stumers to be
used.

2. Anyone wearing odd socks, or a
dicky, or a paper collar to be disqualified.

3. Anybody getting out of temper to be
fined drinks.

4. Nobody to leave a room save by the
window and chimney.

5. Anybody found in possession of a
summer-house, barn, or back-kitchen to be
expelled.

6. No fines or subscriptions ever to be
paid—on pain of expulsion.

7. Evening-dress indispensable.

8. Liver pads indispensable.

9. Red flannel shirts indispensable.
New members are wanted—as are most
of the old ones at Scotland Yard.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Sun, Sep 14, 2025 at 10:42 AM Shapiro, Fred
<00001ac016895344-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:
>
> I have only a slight antedating of the word "spoof," but I think that the word is of sufficient interest to present the antedating.  "Spoof" originated as the name of a game.  The OED's first citation is dated Dec. 13, 1884.  I have previously posted an August 2, 1884 citation.  I now see that the British Newspaper Archive has one from July 26, 1884.  I do not have full access to BNA, so let me just present the information I was able to get from that database:
>
> ... have been asked by several ignorant correspondents to enlighten them on the subject of the grand old national pastime of “Spoof,” which has been mentioned in this paper. Merely pausing to say that anyone writing Spouf is a liar and assassin, we proceed ...
> Published: Saturday 26 July 1884
> Newspaper: Sporting Times<https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results/1884-07-22/1884-07-28?newspaperTitle=Sporting%20Times>
> County: London, England
> Type: Article | Words: 2618 | Page: 1 | Tags: none
>
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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