MDMD: Buzz-Men

[Tyrone Mullet]

I’ve wondered about this myself, as over the years various p-listers have 
pointed out similar apparent anachronisms.  Pynchon’s work, I think, 
demonstrates that he’s an extremely careful researcher.  To my mind this 
makes it unlikely that these usages are accidental, in most cases (no this 
isn’t hero-worship, but by all means call me names if it makes you feel 
good).  If they're not accidental, I guess there’s a reason.  Maybe he finds 
a word he likes, and decides what the hell?  Maybe jbor’s explanation below? 
  Maybe in this case he found another source documenting usage before the 
OED citation?  Who knows?

     Steve Maas
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jbor wrote:
Thanks. That fits pretty well I think. I wonder if Pynchon's use of all
these terms and expressions which aren't documented until the early 19th c. 
is really anachronism or if he is factoring in a period of common usage 
which takes place before a new coinage comes to be accepted into the 
lexicon?
----------------------------
Steve Maas wrote:
The OED cites Buzz-Men as pickpockets.  But if memory serves, the date was 
around 1830.



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