When was the expression “Indian file” first used in English? [duplicate]





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This question already has an answer here:




  • Why is it called an “Indian file”?

    9 answers




I have just discovered that the Spanish expression fila india translates word by word to a valid English expression: Indian file. And seemingly it is also valid at least in French (file indienne) and Portuguese and Italian (fila indiana).



The linked question discusses the reason why it is called Indian file, but I would like to know which language came up with the expression first, so what are the first texts registered in English that use this expression? So far I have found a text in Spanish from 1799 that uses the Spanish version of the expression. But I have also found this English text from 1760 in the American English corpus of Ngram:




You will march your Party in an Indian File along the River side, opposite the Battoes, keeping the men at 5 or 6 yds distance from each other [...].




If I select the British English corpus, the first result is also from 1760.



Are there any other previous English texts that used this expression?










share|improve this question


















marked as duplicate by FumbleFingers, Jason Bassford, Edwin Ashworth, JJJ, jimm101 May 29 at 11:52


This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.















  • 4





    @FumbleFingers I am not asking for the reason why it is called "Indian file", but for the specific year the first texts using this expression appeared. That is not answered in the other question.

    – Charlie
    May 28 at 13:23






  • 1





    Even if "date of earliest attested usage" isn't given by any answers to that earlier question, I suggest that's where this detail should be. It's ridiculous to have separate questions+answers for Why? and When? in respect of the same usage.

    – FumbleFingers
    May 28 at 13:28






  • 3





    ...actually, it's in a comment on the earlier question: The OED’s first citation for Indian file is from 1758, which by simple temporal arithmetic by definition makes it British.

    – FumbleFingers
    May 28 at 13:34






  • 2





    @FumbleFingers I must say I missed that comment. I don't mind marking this question as a duplicate, but if that comment weren't there, what would be the proper way to proceed? Should I leave a comment to Jez in the other question asking them to ask also for the first attested usage?

    – Charlie
    May 28 at 13:46











  • I'm not actually sure what's the best approach in this particular case. I know the mods can "merge" questions+answers, so perhaps it would be reasonable for you to "flag" your own question and ask them to do this (we ordinary users can only vote to close as a dup, as I'm sure you know). You could ask that previous OP (Jez) to edit his question and ask for the extra info - but noting that he hasn't been here for a few weeks, I might be inclined to post a comment under @Peter Shor's answer asking him to include it there.

    – FumbleFingers
    May 28 at 14:22


















6


















This question already has an answer here:




  • Why is it called an “Indian file”?

    9 answers




I have just discovered that the Spanish expression fila india translates word by word to a valid English expression: Indian file. And seemingly it is also valid at least in French (file indienne) and Portuguese and Italian (fila indiana).



The linked question discusses the reason why it is called Indian file, but I would like to know which language came up with the expression first, so what are the first texts registered in English that use this expression? So far I have found a text in Spanish from 1799 that uses the Spanish version of the expression. But I have also found this English text from 1760 in the American English corpus of Ngram:




You will march your Party in an Indian File along the River side, opposite the Battoes, keeping the men at 5 or 6 yds distance from each other [...].




If I select the British English corpus, the first result is also from 1760.



Are there any other previous English texts that used this expression?










share|improve this question


















marked as duplicate by FumbleFingers, Jason Bassford, Edwin Ashworth, JJJ, jimm101 May 29 at 11:52


This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.















  • 4





    @FumbleFingers I am not asking for the reason why it is called "Indian file", but for the specific year the first texts using this expression appeared. That is not answered in the other question.

    – Charlie
    May 28 at 13:23






  • 1





    Even if "date of earliest attested usage" isn't given by any answers to that earlier question, I suggest that's where this detail should be. It's ridiculous to have separate questions+answers for Why? and When? in respect of the same usage.

    – FumbleFingers
    May 28 at 13:28






  • 3





    ...actually, it's in a comment on the earlier question: The OED’s first citation for Indian file is from 1758, which by simple temporal arithmetic by definition makes it British.

    – FumbleFingers
    May 28 at 13:34






  • 2





    @FumbleFingers I must say I missed that comment. I don't mind marking this question as a duplicate, but if that comment weren't there, what would be the proper way to proceed? Should I leave a comment to Jez in the other question asking them to ask also for the first attested usage?

    – Charlie
    May 28 at 13:46











  • I'm not actually sure what's the best approach in this particular case. I know the mods can "merge" questions+answers, so perhaps it would be reasonable for you to "flag" your own question and ask them to do this (we ordinary users can only vote to close as a dup, as I'm sure you know). You could ask that previous OP (Jez) to edit his question and ask for the extra info - but noting that he hasn't been here for a few weeks, I might be inclined to post a comment under @Peter Shor's answer asking him to include it there.

    – FumbleFingers
    May 28 at 14:22














6












6








6









This question already has an answer here:




  • Why is it called an “Indian file”?

    9 answers




I have just discovered that the Spanish expression fila india translates word by word to a valid English expression: Indian file. And seemingly it is also valid at least in French (file indienne) and Portuguese and Italian (fila indiana).



The linked question discusses the reason why it is called Indian file, but I would like to know which language came up with the expression first, so what are the first texts registered in English that use this expression? So far I have found a text in Spanish from 1799 that uses the Spanish version of the expression. But I have also found this English text from 1760 in the American English corpus of Ngram:




You will march your Party in an Indian File along the River side, opposite the Battoes, keeping the men at 5 or 6 yds distance from each other [...].




If I select the British English corpus, the first result is also from 1760.



Are there any other previous English texts that used this expression?










share|improve this question

















This question already has an answer here:




  • Why is it called an “Indian file”?

    9 answers




I have just discovered that the Spanish expression fila india translates word by word to a valid English expression: Indian file. And seemingly it is also valid at least in French (file indienne) and Portuguese and Italian (fila indiana).



The linked question discusses the reason why it is called Indian file, but I would like to know which language came up with the expression first, so what are the first texts registered in English that use this expression? So far I have found a text in Spanish from 1799 that uses the Spanish version of the expression. But I have also found this English text from 1760 in the American English corpus of Ngram:




You will march your Party in an Indian File along the River side, opposite the Battoes, keeping the men at 5 or 6 yds distance from each other [...].




If I select the British English corpus, the first result is also from 1760.



Are there any other previous English texts that used this expression?





This question already has an answer here:




  • Why is it called an “Indian file”?

    9 answers








expressions phrase-origin






share|improve this question















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share|improve this question



share|improve this question








edited May 28 at 13:25







Charlie

















asked May 28 at 12:50









CharlieCharlie

1,3122 gold badges7 silver badges23 bronze badges




1,3122 gold badges7 silver badges23 bronze badges





marked as duplicate by FumbleFingers, Jason Bassford, Edwin Ashworth, JJJ, jimm101 May 29 at 11:52


This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.











marked as duplicate by FumbleFingers, Jason Bassford, Edwin Ashworth, JJJ, jimm101 May 29 at 11:52


This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.









marked as duplicate by FumbleFingers, Jason Bassford, Edwin Ashworth, JJJ, jimm101 May 29 at 11:52


This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.










  • 4





    @FumbleFingers I am not asking for the reason why it is called "Indian file", but for the specific year the first texts using this expression appeared. That is not answered in the other question.

    – Charlie
    May 28 at 13:23






  • 1





    Even if "date of earliest attested usage" isn't given by any answers to that earlier question, I suggest that's where this detail should be. It's ridiculous to have separate questions+answers for Why? and When? in respect of the same usage.

    – FumbleFingers
    May 28 at 13:28






  • 3





    ...actually, it's in a comment on the earlier question: The OED’s first citation for Indian file is from 1758, which by simple temporal arithmetic by definition makes it British.

    – FumbleFingers
    May 28 at 13:34






  • 2





    @FumbleFingers I must say I missed that comment. I don't mind marking this question as a duplicate, but if that comment weren't there, what would be the proper way to proceed? Should I leave a comment to Jez in the other question asking them to ask also for the first attested usage?

    – Charlie
    May 28 at 13:46











  • I'm not actually sure what's the best approach in this particular case. I know the mods can "merge" questions+answers, so perhaps it would be reasonable for you to "flag" your own question and ask them to do this (we ordinary users can only vote to close as a dup, as I'm sure you know). You could ask that previous OP (Jez) to edit his question and ask for the extra info - but noting that he hasn't been here for a few weeks, I might be inclined to post a comment under @Peter Shor's answer asking him to include it there.

    – FumbleFingers
    May 28 at 14:22














  • 4





    @FumbleFingers I am not asking for the reason why it is called "Indian file", but for the specific year the first texts using this expression appeared. That is not answered in the other question.

    – Charlie
    May 28 at 13:23






  • 1





    Even if "date of earliest attested usage" isn't given by any answers to that earlier question, I suggest that's where this detail should be. It's ridiculous to have separate questions+answers for Why? and When? in respect of the same usage.

    – FumbleFingers
    May 28 at 13:28






  • 3





    ...actually, it's in a comment on the earlier question: The OED’s first citation for Indian file is from 1758, which by simple temporal arithmetic by definition makes it British.

    – FumbleFingers
    May 28 at 13:34






  • 2





    @FumbleFingers I must say I missed that comment. I don't mind marking this question as a duplicate, but if that comment weren't there, what would be the proper way to proceed? Should I leave a comment to Jez in the other question asking them to ask also for the first attested usage?

    – Charlie
    May 28 at 13:46











  • I'm not actually sure what's the best approach in this particular case. I know the mods can "merge" questions+answers, so perhaps it would be reasonable for you to "flag" your own question and ask them to do this (we ordinary users can only vote to close as a dup, as I'm sure you know). You could ask that previous OP (Jez) to edit his question and ask for the extra info - but noting that he hasn't been here for a few weeks, I might be inclined to post a comment under @Peter Shor's answer asking him to include it there.

    – FumbleFingers
    May 28 at 14:22








4




4





@FumbleFingers I am not asking for the reason why it is called "Indian file", but for the specific year the first texts using this expression appeared. That is not answered in the other question.

– Charlie
May 28 at 13:23





@FumbleFingers I am not asking for the reason why it is called "Indian file", but for the specific year the first texts using this expression appeared. That is not answered in the other question.

– Charlie
May 28 at 13:23




1




1





Even if "date of earliest attested usage" isn't given by any answers to that earlier question, I suggest that's where this detail should be. It's ridiculous to have separate questions+answers for Why? and When? in respect of the same usage.

– FumbleFingers
May 28 at 13:28





Even if "date of earliest attested usage" isn't given by any answers to that earlier question, I suggest that's where this detail should be. It's ridiculous to have separate questions+answers for Why? and When? in respect of the same usage.

– FumbleFingers
May 28 at 13:28




3




3





...actually, it's in a comment on the earlier question: The OED’s first citation for Indian file is from 1758, which by simple temporal arithmetic by definition makes it British.

– FumbleFingers
May 28 at 13:34





...actually, it's in a comment on the earlier question: The OED’s first citation for Indian file is from 1758, which by simple temporal arithmetic by definition makes it British.

– FumbleFingers
May 28 at 13:34




2




2





@FumbleFingers I must say I missed that comment. I don't mind marking this question as a duplicate, but if that comment weren't there, what would be the proper way to proceed? Should I leave a comment to Jez in the other question asking them to ask also for the first attested usage?

– Charlie
May 28 at 13:46





@FumbleFingers I must say I missed that comment. I don't mind marking this question as a duplicate, but if that comment weren't there, what would be the proper way to proceed? Should I leave a comment to Jez in the other question asking them to ask also for the first attested usage?

– Charlie
May 28 at 13:46













I'm not actually sure what's the best approach in this particular case. I know the mods can "merge" questions+answers, so perhaps it would be reasonable for you to "flag" your own question and ask them to do this (we ordinary users can only vote to close as a dup, as I'm sure you know). You could ask that previous OP (Jez) to edit his question and ask for the extra info - but noting that he hasn't been here for a few weeks, I might be inclined to post a comment under @Peter Shor's answer asking him to include it there.

– FumbleFingers
May 28 at 14:22





I'm not actually sure what's the best approach in this particular case. I know the mods can "merge" questions+answers, so perhaps it would be reasonable for you to "flag" your own question and ask them to do this (we ordinary users can only vote to close as a dup, as I'm sure you know). You could ask that previous OP (Jez) to edit his question and ask for the extra info - but noting that he hasn't been here for a few weeks, I might be inclined to post a comment under @Peter Shor's answer asking him to include it there.

– FumbleFingers
May 28 at 14:22










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















7


















The earliest text I can find using the expression dates to 1758, in "Extract of a Letter from Albany, August 14, 1758" in the August 21, 1758 edition of the New-York Gazette, or the Weekly Post-Boy, as accessed through the database America's Historical Newspapers:




Our people were discovered by some of the Provincials firing at Pigeons : Rogers's Party was then in an Indian File, which took up a long while before the Rear came up. (p. 3)




enter image description here



The whole letter describes a military engagement between Major Robert Rogers's forces (a provincial unit with a Wikipedia article) and a mixed unit of "150 Indians and
300 Canadians" near Fort Anne in New York. The details mentioning the "Indian file" come with an addendum note after the letter complete with adjusted troop numbers.



A similar letter of the same title printed in the Pennsylvania Gazette (August 24, 1758), though it is trimmed of some colorful details like the pigeon shooting:




Rogers's Party was then in an Indian File, which took up a long while before the Rear came up. (p.3)




enter image description here



This 1758 occurrence of "Indian File" is interesting for a number of reasons. The military action of the "Indian File" is one initiated by a British officer; the letter writer doesn't need to explain the action in detail but does provide a contextual clue for understanding it ("which took up a long while"); this is occurring during a war (The French and Indian War [1754-1763], often treated as the American theater of the Seven Years' War) where both French Canadian and British American forces served alongside indigenous forces from several tribes and adapted many of their tactics.



For these reasons, even if the letter writer didn't create the term, the term most likely came out of the French and Indian War.






share|improve this answer




































    4


















    As noted by user FumbleFingers, user tchrist left a comment in the other, related question with a valid answer to this one:




    The OED’s first citation for Indian file is from 1758, which by simple temporal arithmetic by definition makes it British.




    It probably refers to this text from The London Chronicle, from that year:




    Rogers's party was then in an Indian file [...].







    share|improve this answer




































      0


















      According to Wiktionary and Google, it has been attested since the 1700s, because Native Americans traversed woods in this way.






      share|improve this answer


































        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes








        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        7


















        The earliest text I can find using the expression dates to 1758, in "Extract of a Letter from Albany, August 14, 1758" in the August 21, 1758 edition of the New-York Gazette, or the Weekly Post-Boy, as accessed through the database America's Historical Newspapers:




        Our people were discovered by some of the Provincials firing at Pigeons : Rogers's Party was then in an Indian File, which took up a long while before the Rear came up. (p. 3)




        enter image description here



        The whole letter describes a military engagement between Major Robert Rogers's forces (a provincial unit with a Wikipedia article) and a mixed unit of "150 Indians and
        300 Canadians" near Fort Anne in New York. The details mentioning the "Indian file" come with an addendum note after the letter complete with adjusted troop numbers.



        A similar letter of the same title printed in the Pennsylvania Gazette (August 24, 1758), though it is trimmed of some colorful details like the pigeon shooting:




        Rogers's Party was then in an Indian File, which took up a long while before the Rear came up. (p.3)




        enter image description here



        This 1758 occurrence of "Indian File" is interesting for a number of reasons. The military action of the "Indian File" is one initiated by a British officer; the letter writer doesn't need to explain the action in detail but does provide a contextual clue for understanding it ("which took up a long while"); this is occurring during a war (The French and Indian War [1754-1763], often treated as the American theater of the Seven Years' War) where both French Canadian and British American forces served alongside indigenous forces from several tribes and adapted many of their tactics.



        For these reasons, even if the letter writer didn't create the term, the term most likely came out of the French and Indian War.






        share|improve this answer

































          7


















          The earliest text I can find using the expression dates to 1758, in "Extract of a Letter from Albany, August 14, 1758" in the August 21, 1758 edition of the New-York Gazette, or the Weekly Post-Boy, as accessed through the database America's Historical Newspapers:




          Our people were discovered by some of the Provincials firing at Pigeons : Rogers's Party was then in an Indian File, which took up a long while before the Rear came up. (p. 3)




          enter image description here



          The whole letter describes a military engagement between Major Robert Rogers's forces (a provincial unit with a Wikipedia article) and a mixed unit of "150 Indians and
          300 Canadians" near Fort Anne in New York. The details mentioning the "Indian file" come with an addendum note after the letter complete with adjusted troop numbers.



          A similar letter of the same title printed in the Pennsylvania Gazette (August 24, 1758), though it is trimmed of some colorful details like the pigeon shooting:




          Rogers's Party was then in an Indian File, which took up a long while before the Rear came up. (p.3)




          enter image description here



          This 1758 occurrence of "Indian File" is interesting for a number of reasons. The military action of the "Indian File" is one initiated by a British officer; the letter writer doesn't need to explain the action in detail but does provide a contextual clue for understanding it ("which took up a long while"); this is occurring during a war (The French and Indian War [1754-1763], often treated as the American theater of the Seven Years' War) where both French Canadian and British American forces served alongside indigenous forces from several tribes and adapted many of their tactics.



          For these reasons, even if the letter writer didn't create the term, the term most likely came out of the French and Indian War.






          share|improve this answer































            7














            7










            7









            The earliest text I can find using the expression dates to 1758, in "Extract of a Letter from Albany, August 14, 1758" in the August 21, 1758 edition of the New-York Gazette, or the Weekly Post-Boy, as accessed through the database America's Historical Newspapers:




            Our people were discovered by some of the Provincials firing at Pigeons : Rogers's Party was then in an Indian File, which took up a long while before the Rear came up. (p. 3)




            enter image description here



            The whole letter describes a military engagement between Major Robert Rogers's forces (a provincial unit with a Wikipedia article) and a mixed unit of "150 Indians and
            300 Canadians" near Fort Anne in New York. The details mentioning the "Indian file" come with an addendum note after the letter complete with adjusted troop numbers.



            A similar letter of the same title printed in the Pennsylvania Gazette (August 24, 1758), though it is trimmed of some colorful details like the pigeon shooting:




            Rogers's Party was then in an Indian File, which took up a long while before the Rear came up. (p.3)




            enter image description here



            This 1758 occurrence of "Indian File" is interesting for a number of reasons. The military action of the "Indian File" is one initiated by a British officer; the letter writer doesn't need to explain the action in detail but does provide a contextual clue for understanding it ("which took up a long while"); this is occurring during a war (The French and Indian War [1754-1763], often treated as the American theater of the Seven Years' War) where both French Canadian and British American forces served alongside indigenous forces from several tribes and adapted many of their tactics.



            For these reasons, even if the letter writer didn't create the term, the term most likely came out of the French and Indian War.






            share|improve this answer
















            The earliest text I can find using the expression dates to 1758, in "Extract of a Letter from Albany, August 14, 1758" in the August 21, 1758 edition of the New-York Gazette, or the Weekly Post-Boy, as accessed through the database America's Historical Newspapers:




            Our people were discovered by some of the Provincials firing at Pigeons : Rogers's Party was then in an Indian File, which took up a long while before the Rear came up. (p. 3)




            enter image description here



            The whole letter describes a military engagement between Major Robert Rogers's forces (a provincial unit with a Wikipedia article) and a mixed unit of "150 Indians and
            300 Canadians" near Fort Anne in New York. The details mentioning the "Indian file" come with an addendum note after the letter complete with adjusted troop numbers.



            A similar letter of the same title printed in the Pennsylvania Gazette (August 24, 1758), though it is trimmed of some colorful details like the pigeon shooting:




            Rogers's Party was then in an Indian File, which took up a long while before the Rear came up. (p.3)




            enter image description here



            This 1758 occurrence of "Indian File" is interesting for a number of reasons. The military action of the "Indian File" is one initiated by a British officer; the letter writer doesn't need to explain the action in detail but does provide a contextual clue for understanding it ("which took up a long while"); this is occurring during a war (The French and Indian War [1754-1763], often treated as the American theater of the Seven Years' War) where both French Canadian and British American forces served alongside indigenous forces from several tribes and adapted many of their tactics.



            For these reasons, even if the letter writer didn't create the term, the term most likely came out of the French and Indian War.







            share|improve this answer















            share|improve this answer




            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited May 28 at 15:57

























            answered May 28 at 15:52









            TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin

            18.4k1 gold badge30 silver badges60 bronze badges




            18.4k1 gold badge30 silver badges60 bronze badges




























                4


















                As noted by user FumbleFingers, user tchrist left a comment in the other, related question with a valid answer to this one:




                The OED’s first citation for Indian file is from 1758, which by simple temporal arithmetic by definition makes it British.




                It probably refers to this text from The London Chronicle, from that year:




                Rogers's party was then in an Indian file [...].







                share|improve this answer

































                  4


















                  As noted by user FumbleFingers, user tchrist left a comment in the other, related question with a valid answer to this one:




                  The OED’s first citation for Indian file is from 1758, which by simple temporal arithmetic by definition makes it British.




                  It probably refers to this text from The London Chronicle, from that year:




                  Rogers's party was then in an Indian file [...].







                  share|improve this answer































                    4














                    4










                    4









                    As noted by user FumbleFingers, user tchrist left a comment in the other, related question with a valid answer to this one:




                    The OED’s first citation for Indian file is from 1758, which by simple temporal arithmetic by definition makes it British.




                    It probably refers to this text from The London Chronicle, from that year:




                    Rogers's party was then in an Indian file [...].







                    share|improve this answer
















                    As noted by user FumbleFingers, user tchrist left a comment in the other, related question with a valid answer to this one:




                    The OED’s first citation for Indian file is from 1758, which by simple temporal arithmetic by definition makes it British.




                    It probably refers to this text from The London Chronicle, from that year:




                    Rogers's party was then in an Indian file [...].








                    share|improve this answer















                    share|improve this answer




                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    answered May 28 at 14:14


























                    community wiki





                    Charlie



























                        0


















                        According to Wiktionary and Google, it has been attested since the 1700s, because Native Americans traversed woods in this way.






                        share|improve this answer































                          0


















                          According to Wiktionary and Google, it has been attested since the 1700s, because Native Americans traversed woods in this way.






                          share|improve this answer





























                            0














                            0










                            0









                            According to Wiktionary and Google, it has been attested since the 1700s, because Native Americans traversed woods in this way.






                            share|improve this answer














                            According to Wiktionary and Google, it has been attested since the 1700s, because Native Americans traversed woods in this way.







                            share|improve this answer













                            share|improve this answer




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                            answered May 28 at 13:07









                            Jordan StubblefieldJordan Stubblefield

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