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> People have been calling police since the first ones, the Bow Street Runners. Now: > There's a citation to this usage in the OED back to 1811 that is speci
by ailideex 7y ago
> People have been calling police since the first ones, the Bow Street Runners.
Now:
> There's a citation to this usage in the OED back to 1811 that is specifically as I stated.
The Bow Street Runners were founded in 1749[1].
1811 is after they were founded so it does not really support your original claim. Which would require the use to have been <= 1749.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_Street_Runners?wprov=sfti1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_Street_Runners?wprov=sfti1