[Sca-cooks] QED

[tgl at mailer.uni-marburg.de]

<< Of course, had it been me, I'd have said it was first used, as far as
we've been able to determine, by Finlayson and then adopted by
Castellanata years later. >>

They are at support at oed.com ! The current version of the article is only
called a draft for the "New edition" to appear in print in 2010 or so. I
think they will like your comments.

<< My apologies to all concerned for casting aspersions on the
completeness of the OED's info in this matter. >>

Providing "earlier references" is a wellknown sport in word history. It
has is fruitful sides. However, I think there is no reason for
"aspersions". The OED team, like many other dictionary team, did good
work. They are few and there are so many fields! It is easy for a
specialist in alchemy, angling, hunting, cooking etc. etc. to provide
this or that earlier reference or even to provide a usage not recorded
now and then. Jacob Grimm, the founder of the Deutsches Wörterbuch
together with his brother Wilhelm (German dictionary on historical
principles ..., 33 vols.), quoted an old saying:

  ich zimmere bei wege,
  des musz ich manegen meister han

  'I am working at the side of the road, [i.e. language]
   therefore many people tell me what I should do better ...'
   (roughly)

Again: let them know what you find out: support at oed.com

Th.