Dig is first used to describe an archaeological expedition in 1896.
Dig is used to mean a prod or poke (often with the elbow in the ribs) from 1819.
Digs is first seen as a slang term for ‘lodgings’ in 1893, but the term ‘diggings’ had been in use since at least 1838.
Whether I can include dugout or not is likely a matter of personal opinion, but I am because the dugout canoe is one of the earliest technologies (albeit not so much dug out as burned out) – however, not seen in print until 1722.
The dug out is also an area alongside the playing area where coaches, medical team, other players would be located during play. This sense is first seen in 1914.
Shindig is probably getting close to becoming obsolete, but for those who remember this reference to a party, dance, or lively gathering, it is first seen in 1821 – it is thought to have originally been used as ‘shinty’.
And on the subject of music, nobody ever used the slang term ‘dig’ to suggest they rather liked the latest musical offering until the late 1950s.
No comments:
Post a Comment