[Ads-l] weaponize (1871); weaponized (1960)

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Excellent citations, Dave. Below is a figurative use of "weaponize" in
1944, I think. A lorgnette is weaponized when it is wielded by a grand
dame. In an alternative interpretation, a grand dame is weaponized
when she is given a lorgnette by a cartoonist.

Date: April 2, 1944
Newspaper: Santa Barbara News-Press
Newspaper Location: Santa Barbara, California
Article: Town Chatter
Author: Miss Barbara
Quote Page B3, Column
Database: Newspapers.com

[Begin excerpt]
A raised eyebrow might tax your credulity, but a raised lorgnette,
madame, will tax you plenty and the piper you pay is your Uncle Sam,
who says that plain garden variety spectacles come under the category
of necessities, but the long, single-handed optical aid that
cartoonists put on grand dames, to weaponize and politely terrorize
the little people, will come high.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Sun, Feb 22, 2026 at 8:38 AM dave at wilton.net <dave at wilton.net> wrote:
>
>
> I found an 1871 literal use of the verb "to weaponize" (OED has 1938):
>
> “What a Merchant Saw in Europe” (8 April 1871). Rutland Daily Herald (Vermont), 28 December 1871, 2/4. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers.
>
> "I have also observed how general is the custom among the senoritas to trim their unclipped finger-nails sharply to a point, a custom to which to say nothing of its detraction from womanly charms, is very suggestive of an intent to weaponize hands God made for caressing."
>
> And I found a 1960 use of "weaponized" in a figurative sense (OED has 1988 for the figurative use):
>
> Heavey, James. “State Tax Collector Ready for Troupers.” Binghamton Press (New York), 7 August 1960, 12-C/1.
>
> "Nothing is sacred in the cool eyes of New York State’s increasingly weaponized tax men. Not even the traditional haphazard financial habits of boxers, wrestlers and chorus girls."
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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