[Ads-l] Antedating of "Peekaboo" (Adjective, Boxing)

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Excellent citation describing the peekaboo boxing style, Fred. Here is
an earlier instance of the adjective which also partially describes
the style.

Date: December 23, 1952
Newspaper: Vallejo Times-Herald
Newspaper Location: Vallejo, California
Article: Turner Gains TKO Verdict Over Miceli in Sixth Round
Author: John Gaudiosi (UPI)
Quote Page 14, Column 5
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-herald-peekaboo/208192627/

[Begin excerpt]
The young Philadelphian, who spun from the limelight after defeats by
Welterweight Champion Kid Gavilan and Bobby Dykes, smothered Miceli
with punches and especially when he trapped him on the ropes time and
again when Miceli's only retort was to protect his face in a
peek-a-boo fashion rather than retaliate.
[End excerpt]

The term was international. Here is an instance in a London newspaper.

Date: March 16, 1958
Newspaper: Sunday Pictorial
Newspaper Location: London, England
Article: Nice Windfall for Jones
Author: Tommy Farr
Quote Page 24, Column 3
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-mirror-peekaboo/208191711/

[Begin excerpt]
British lightweight champion Dave Charnley was made to look a world
prospect when he dismissed peek-a-boo style Frenchman Tony Garcia at
Streatham.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Tue, Oct 13, 2026 at 8:28 AM Shapiro, Fred
<00001ac016895344-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:
>
> peekaboo (OED, adj. 3., 1960)
>
> 1958 Daily News (New York) 12 July 28/4 (Newspapers.com)
>
> [Floyd] Patterson has been fighting since he was a little kid.  He had built a strong body and developed what I call a peek-a-boo style — gloves up close to the cheeks with the elbows protecting the stomach, a lot like Archie Moore.
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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