I quote from the OED: 1700 [see etym. above]. -- The quote this refers to is: 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Hacks, or Hackneys, Hirelings. ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html