[Ads-l] Antedating of "Woofing" (Aggressiveness) and "Woof" (Verb)

Shapiro, Fred 00001ac016895344-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Mon May 4 10:01:35 UTC 2026


woofing (OED, n. 1929), woof (OED, v2, 2., 1930)

1927 Atlanta Constitution 13 Oct. 16/2 (Newspapers.com)

"Woofing" became grounds for justifiable homicide in Atlanta Thursday when a jury returned a verdict of not guilty in the case of George Bryant, negro, charged with the murder of another negro, John Harris.  "He 'woofed' me and I shot him," said Bryant on the stand.

Fred Shapiro

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


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