[Ads-l] Antedating of "Computer" (Modern Sense)

[Shapiro, Fred]

computer (OED, 3.a., 1946)

1941 in Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. electronic computer.

1946 Baltimore Sun 15 Feb. 12/2 (Newspapers.com)  Dr. Mauchly said his original ideas for an electronic computer were stimulated by the need for high-speed numerical devices in the field of weather analysis and forecasting.

NOTE: The first citation in the OED entry for "computer" 3.a. is later in 1946 (it is a printing of lectures in July - August) than the Baltimore Sun citation above.

Fred Shapiro

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