Xref: utzoo comp.arch:19668 alt.folklore.computers:7763
Path: utzoo!utgpu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!usc!apple!voder!nsc!taux01!amos
From: amos@taux01.nsc.com (Amos Shapir)
Newsgroups: comp.arch,alt.folklore.computers
Subject: Re: The term Bug
Message-ID: <5053@taux01.nsc.com>
Date: 6 Dec 90 22:32:23 GMT
References: <2351@mentor.cc.purdue.edu>
Followup-To: comp.arch
Organization: National Semiconductor (IC) Ltd, Israel, Home of the Series 32000
Lines: 19
X-Hdate: 20 Kislev 5751

[Quoted from the referenced article by hrubin@pop.stat.purdue.edu (Herman Rubin)]
>
>I personally heard the term used before there was an electronic computer.
>
>Someone in some group in the past posted that the OED traced the use of
>the term "bug" for industrial defect to Edison in the last century.

When this was discussed in sci.nlang (I think it was back when it was still
called net.nlang) the earliest mention of "bug" meaning "disturb, annoy"
was traced back to the 16th century - preceding even its application to
insects.  (I think there was even a quote from Shakespeare or Chaucer).

If anyone can verify (or beat) this and post the references, we can finally
lay this argument to rest.

-- 
	Amos Shapir		amos@taux01.nsc.com, amos@nsc.nsc.com
National Semiconductor (Israel) P.O.B. 3007, Herzlia 46104, Israel
Tel. +972 52 522255  TWX: 33691, fax: +972-52-558322 GEO: 34 48 E / 32 10 N


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