[Ads-l] Antedating of "Jeff" (Dull or Ignorant Person)

[Shapiro, Fred]

jeff (OED, n2, 1939)

1938 Evansville (Ind.) Press 20 Nov. 8-C (Newspapers.com)

Cab Calloway has written a revised edition of his "Cat-olog." ... Some of the more colorful new expressions are "Frompy," pounders," "lay some iron," "cubby," "faust," "set of seven brights," and "jeff."

Fred Shapiro

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