[Ads-l] Fw: antedating ashy

[Shapiro, Fred]

Great find, Bill !  As you may know, "ashy" was one of the terms that the Oxford Dictionary of African American English focused on from the get-go.

Fred Shapiro

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From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Bill Mullins <amcombill at HOTMAIL.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 12:57 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Subject: antedating ashy

OED has 1918 for "colloquial. Chiefly among black speakers (originally U.S.). Of skin (esp. on the knee, elbow, or ankle): dry, rough, and having a grey or whitish appearance.
Typically with reference to the appearance of dry skin on black people."



1834 Boston Post 23 Sept 1/1

An exceedingly ashy, olive complexion, hair of a kind of glittering black, quite unlike in texture and color any I have ever before seen; large, brilliant, intense black eyes, and lips (the most peculiar feature of all,) of lusterless black, completed the portraits of two as remarkable looking men as I have any where met.
[in reference to men from Hindoostan]

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1850 Richmond Enquirer 22 Mar 3/4

He is of a dark, ashy complexion, small stature and looks to be almost 30 years of age.

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1857 Alexandria (VA) Gazette 21 Mar 2/7

Ranaway, from Mr. Henry Edwards, of Stafford County, on the 9th inst., a negro boy named JOE.  Said boy is 18 years old, about five feet high, rather slender, has sharp features, ashy skin, high cheek bones, with large white eyes, and pleasing countenance when spoken to.

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