[Ads-l] Thatababy's Guide to Names and Phrases that Originated in Comic Strips

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

The OED entry should be updated because the comic strip containing the
text of the bracketed citation for Charles M. Schulz occurred in
October 1954. This is before the first citation listed on the OED.
Interestingly, Charlie Brown was carrying the "security and happiness
blanket" and not Linus.

Date: October 24, 1954
Newspaper: The Oregon Daily Journal
Newspaper Location: Portland, Oregon
Section: Northwest's Greatest Comics
Comic Strip: Peanuts
Author: Charles M. Schulz
Unnumbered Page
Database: Newspapers.com

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregon-daily-journal-blanket/192534990/

[Begin captions of second and third panels]
WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DRAGGING AROUND, CHARLIE BROWN?
THIS IS A 'SECURITY AND HAPPINESS' BLANKET. ALL LITTLE KIDS CARRY THEM..
[End captions]

Garson

On Mon, Mar 2, 2026 at 5:42 PM ADSGarson O'Toole
<adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks for pointing to an interesting comic strip, Amy.
> Charles M. Schulz did popularize the notion of a security blanket, but
> the OED's first citation is not from Schulz.
>
> [Begin OED excerpt]
> security blanket noun
> 2. Originally U.S. A small blanket or other soft fabric item held or
> carried by a child to afford reassurance by its familiarity. Also in
> extended use: anything that offers comfort, reassurance, or a sense of
> security.
>
> Widely popularized by the American cartoonist Charles M. Schulz
> (1922–2000) in the comic strip ‘Peanuts’, featuring a boy named Linus
> who carries a cot blanket for comfort.
>
> 1954 Security blanket. My younger child is one year old. When..she
> finds a fuzzy blanket..or a fleecy coat she presses her cheek against
> it and sucks her thumb.
> Daily Review (Hayward, California) 29 November 4
>
> [1956  This is a ‘security and happiness’ blanket...All little kids carry them.
> C. M. Schulz, Good Grief, More Peanuts 25 (caption)]
> [End OED excerpt]
>
> On Sun, Mar 1, 2026 at 9:10 PM Amy West <medievalist at w-sts.com> wrote:
> >
> > Today's Thatababy:
> >
> > https://www.gocomics.com/thatababy/2026/03/01
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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