Appeals list

Words or phrases which appear on the Appeals List are those currently being drafted or revised for which the documentary evidence is incomplete. Often these are slang or colloquial items which cannot be researched in specialist texts and are most likely to be turned up by a general reader in popular or non-specialized literature. Usually the appeal is for an earlier example than our current earliest (e.g. 'pre-1970' for a word for which our earliest example is 1970), but sometimes the appeal is for an interdating where there is a large gap in the OED's quotation paragraph (e.g. 'interdate 1589-1910'). Occasionally we ask for a postdating (e.g. 'post-1875'), if an editor feels that an item being revised is still current but has failed to find any recent examples through the usual avenues of research. Words or phrases on the Appeals List with multiple senses are followed by a short definition specifying the sense sought.

If you can help with any of these appeals, please send information to oed3@oup.co.uk.

alkalimetrically:

postdate 1924

cane (it) v. (to take lots of drink/drugs):

antedate 1993

caned ppl. a. (drunk, drugged):

antedate 1994

cark (it) v. (to die):

antedate 1977, and any British evidence

clean sheet (an instance of no goals being scored in a match):

antedate 1962

get real!:

any pre-1987 non-glossarial evidence

glatt kosher:

antedate 1973

grandkid:

antedate 1948

kit (clothing; esp. in 'to get one's kit off': to strip):

antedate 1985

lance the boil (fig. use only):

antedate 1993

one potato, two potato:

antedate 1963

palaver n. (a fuss):

antedate 1990

paster n. (U.S., an adhesive label):

postdate 1906

perfect timing:

antedate 1976

punch one's (full) weight (lit. in Boxing, or fig.):

interdate 1955-1989

put/set the cat among(st) the pigeons:

antedate 1950

(to use a) sledgehammer to crack a nut:

antedate 1973

there is a rotten/bad apple in every barrel:

antedate 1971