[Ads-l] Antedating of "Gofer"

[mr_peter_morris@outlook.com]

And here's one in the desired sense from 1945.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22gopher+because+he+is+always+being+ordered+to+go+fer+%22something+or+other%22&sca_esv=05c88817306837c2&udm=36&biw=950&bih=624&aic=0&tbs=cdr%3A1%2Ccd_min%3AJan+1_2+1930%2Ccd_max%3AFeb+28_2+1962&ei=5XpkadXGFfaohbIP6eWEqA4&ved=0ahUKEwiVzfihl4WSAxV2VEEAHekyAeU4FBDh1QMIEQ&uact=5&oq=%22gopher+because+he+is+always+being+ordered+to+go+fer+%22something+or+other%22&gs_lp=EhBnd3Mtd2l6LW1vZGVsZXNzIkkiZ29waGVyIGJlY2F1c2UgaGUgaXMgYWx3YXlzIGJlaW5nIG9yZGVyZWQgdG8gZ28gZmVyICJzb21ldGhpbmcgb3Igb3RoZXIiSIxrULsNWKFicAF4AJABAJgBPKABPKoBATG4AQPIAQD4AQH4AQKYAgGgAgbCAgkQABiwAxgNGB7CAg0QABiwAxgIGAoYDRgewgILEAAYsAMYCBgNGB7CAg4QABiABBiwAxiGAxiKBZgDAIgGAZAGCpIHATGgB0WyBwC4BwDCBwMyLTHIBwWACAA&sclient=gws-wiz-modeless


------ Original Message ------
From "Pete Morris" <mr_peter_morris at outlook.com>
To "American Dialect Society" <ADS-L at listserv.uga.edu>
Date 12/01/2026 04:17:48
Subject Re[2]: Antedating of "Gofer"

>Here's a slightly different sense in 1944.
>"He's a gopher. Go fer one [woman]  then go fer another"
>
>https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Shipyard_Diary_of_a_Woman_Welder/9vQ9AQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=gopher+%22go+fer%22&dq=gopher+%22go+fer%22&printsec=frontcover
>
>
>1944 date seems to be confirmed by copyright noticehttps://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Shipyard_Diary_of_a_Woman_Welder/9vQ9AQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=copyright&dq=gopher%20%22go%20fer%22&printsec=frontcover
>
>
>------ Original Message ------
>From "ADSGarson O'Toole" <00001aa1be50b751-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>To ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>Date 07/01/2026 15:16:17
>Subject Re: Antedating of "Gofer"
>
>>Interesting topic, Fred.
>>The spelling "gophers" was used in 1956 with the desired sense. The
>>newspaper article explained that "gophers" "go fer" things. Note, the
>>OED entry already has a 1968 citation for "gophers" with the desired
>>sense.
>>
>>The OED also has a different sense for "gopher / gopher ball" which is
>>relevant to baseball with citations beginning in 1932.
>>
>>Date: January 20, 1956
>>Newspaper: The Farmville Herald
>>Newspaper Location: Farmville, Virginia
>>Article: As Soda Jerks or Gophers, Housewives Provide Valuable Help To Hospital
>>Quote Page 6, Column 3 and 4
>>Database: Newspapers.com
>>
>>https://www.newspapers.com/image/890009440/?terms=%22go-fer%22&match=1
>>
>>[Begin excerpt]
>>More members of the Unit act as "gophers." As can be imagined they "go
>>fer" things. They deliver flowers and (illegible), run errands carry
>>wanted items to patients, direct visitors, visit out-of-town patients
>>who have no relatives nearby, empty flower bowls, buy articles
>>downtown for patients, and for the sick person wanting that important
>>between-hours-cup-of-coffee, they will perform that service too.
>>[End excerpt]
>>
>>Garson
>>
>>On Wed, Jan 7, 2026 at 8:42 AM Shapiro, Fred
>><00001ac016895344-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:
>>>
>>>  gofer (OED 1967)
>>>
>>>  1962 New Orleans States-Item 16 Feb. 12/1 (GenealogyBank)
>>>
>>>  Janet Leigh was fascinated here when she heard a slang word which was new to her ... The word is "gofer" and refers to the people around Show Business "who gofer coffee, gofer cigarets or gofer sandwiches."  Many agents — and even a few stars' husbands — are "gofers."
>>>
>>>  Fred Shapiro
>>>
>>>  ------------------------------------------------------------
>>>  The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>
>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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