[lbo-talk] "tool" redux

123hop at comcast.net 123hop at comcast.net
Sat Sep 15 10:35:48 PDT 2012


Looks like the usage is fairly old.

Joanna ----------------------

from the OED,

3. fig.

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a. A person used by another for his own ends; one who is, or allows himself to be, made a mere instrument for some purpose; a cat's-paw.

1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 4 Which made some take him for a tool That Knaves do work with, call'd a Fool.

1688 Bp. Parker in Magd. Coll. (O.H.S.) 240 To set me here to make me his tool and his prop!

1711 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1889) III. 133 Charlett and his Tools have got Rogers advanc'd.

1769 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. xxx. 10 If there be any tool of administration daring enough to deny these facts.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iv. 494 The sheriffs were the tools of the government.

1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People vii. §4. 379 Mary had used Darnley as a tool to effect the ruin of his confederates.

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b. (esp. qualified by poor or the like.) An unskilful workman; a shiftless person. slang or dial.

1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew , Slug , a drone, or dull Tool.

1722 G. Vertue Diary in N. & Q. (1861) 2nd Ser. XII. 81/1 The organists are poor tools and very deficient.

1863 Mrs. Toogood Specim. Yorks. Dial. (MS.) , You are a poor tool, your work is not done as it ought to be.



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