[Ads-l] Trivial Antedating and Much More Interesting Precursor of "Threepeat"

[Shapiro, Fred]

threepeat (OED 1988 [30 June])

1988 Newsday (Suffolk / East End edition) 29 June 156/5 (Newspapers.com)  Now [Pat] Riley is talking about a dynasty.  He ... already has added a new word, "threepeat," to his vocabulary.

[1910 Lincoln (Nebraska) Daily Star 12 Sept. 6/4 (Newspapers.com)  The Lopes pounded out a nice assortment of singles, repeaters and threepeaters, swiped bases just like nobody was watching them, and scored at every opportune moment.]

[1931 Boston Globe 24 June 7/5 (Newspapers.com)  The repeating offender has become even more conspicuous than was expected at the start of the drive.  Sixteen drivers already have been tagged twice since June 1, and one, who has been dubbed a 'threepeater,' has received three tags.]

NOTE:  A Newspapers.com search shows that in the 1930s the word "threepeater" was commonly used in Massachusetts motor vehicle law enforcement.

Fred Shapiro

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