Abstract
At first glance it might seem the only thing to say about ‘glove compartment’ is that its original purpose was to hold gloves. And indeed, OED3 presents no discussion on the term, merely setting forth two attestations (1939, 1959). But questions do arise, e.g.,
1) Why was it so important to have gloves in the car?
2) If gloves served the practical purpose of preventing hands from numbing in cold weather, why is the first OED attestation so late?
3) Can any earlier attestations be found?
4) Can anyone be determined to have played a role in the naming of the glove compartment?
5) Is there any other relevant information out there on the term?
In an unexpected development, a twelve-year old curious boy triggered a discussion about ‘glove compartment’ on the American Dialect Society’s listserv. I have now compiled the relevant messages and added some material on Dorothy Levitt, who was mentioned in the ads-l discussion. This very interesting figure invented the rear-view mirror and was evidently also responsible for the term ‘glove’ appearing in ‘glove compartment.’
Recommended Citation
Cohen, G. L. (2024). Glove compartment: antedatings and the ultimate (albeit indirect) role of racing driver Dorothy Levitt (1882-1922) in the origin of the term. COMMENTS ON ETYMOLOGY, 54(2), pp. 8-19. Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Department(s)
Arts, Languages, and Philosophy
Publication Status
Available Access
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2024 Gerald Leonard Cohen, All Rights Reserved
Publication Date
November 2024
