3 ms·
That is almost definitely not the origin of the term. It was used to refer to absent menu items (1936) decades before it was first used to refer to people (1959
by hannasanarion 8y ago
That is almost definitely not the origin of the term. It was used to refer to absent menu items (1936) decades before it was first used to refer to people (1959).
http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/59996?rskey=44dnw9&result=1#eid http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/59996?rskey=44dnw9&result=1#ei... (paywalled, but your local library probably has a portal for you to view it)