OED Appeals: Lexicography and the general public

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is like the bible among linguists; it is said to be THE authoritative source of the English language. But as language changes constantly, so does the OED need to be updated from time to time. Their latest project OED Appeals, which started in October last year, is a call for help to the general public in tracing the earliest records of words in the English language. Terms of which the origin tends to be iffy are present-day slang words or expressions. The latest appeal, for example, is 'gangster':

The earliest OED record of 'gangster' dates back to 1896, but new evidence has shown that the term was used at least ten years earlier. So if you happen to find an earlier record of words like 'party animal' (1982) 'rock paper scissors' (1954), or 'easy-peasy' (1976), you can submit your evidence by leaving a comment on their website. I think this is a fantastic collaboration between linguists and non-linguists in preserving the English language.

In my research data, I also found the usage of a term which is older than the OED citation. According to the OED, the first occurrence of the term 'cull' was in 1698 in a work called In Vino Veritas:

However, I found the use of the term in the cant sense in one of the Old Bailey Proceedings (which are trial reports) published in 1693 (see below):

And that when she was taken, she said she was a dead Woman, and her sweet Life must pay for it, and that she was heard to say, That she got the old Cull out to drink, and so did her business effectually (Trial Elizabeth Davis, 13 July 1693)

I might have a word with the editors to check whether they need any help in uncovering and revising the history of eighteenth century slang words in the OED...