Talk:Cottage industry

Origin

Today's Arizona Daily Star, here in Tucson, had a question that I can't seem to grab and paste: What is the origin of the term "cottage industry"? The reply was that centuries ago farmers and agri. workers didn't always have enough to do, particularly during the winters, so they made linens, did spinning, etc. etc. at home. Some suppliers (from the city) might bring them raw materials that they would then turn into finished goods; the original suppliers would then return and take away the new goods.... Hayford Peirce 16:14, 12 November 2007 (CST)

This is also my understanding, Hayford. On another point: this Apple you mention in the article, does it make apple pies? I have not come across it, out here near the River Styx :-) --Martin Baldwin-Edwards 16:18, 12 November 2007 (CST)

Was that "female farmers", Hayford? Or "farmers' wives"? All those women with not enough to do...especially during the winter, with what, two hours of daylight--yeah, right! I'm not exhausted enough, so let me just sit here and spin till I ruin my eyes, for fun! As to that Apple--yeah, I noticed--haven't gotten to it yet. So fix it, smartass, and lemme alone! Aleta Curry 16:46, 12 November 2007 (CST)

Look, lady, don't blame me, it's just what da dumb noowspepper is saying....Hayford Peirce 17:05, 12 November 2007 (CST)

Don't forget that a typical large family would probably have quite a few unmarried young women who could be enslaved into the cottage industry: it wouldnt all fall on the housewife's shoulders...--Martin Baldwin-Edwards 17:14, 12 November 2007 (CST)

[chuckle, chuckle] Oh, right, I forgot that part! I feel so much better now! Thanks, Hayford! Thanks, Martin! Aleta Curry 19:52, 12 November 2007 (CST)

As to the term's being centuries old, the OED's earliest citation is from 1921. Of course, that doesn't mean the term was coined in that year, only that the OED hasn't found any use of it in print earlier than that. Bruce M.Tindall 16:16, 13 May 2008 (CDT)

Hmmm. I just checked the Merriam-Webster 11th Edition, Collegiate. They too give 1921 as the first citation. I wonder if we shouldn't rewrite the article -- just because the Arizona Daily Star says "centuries ago", with no back-up evidence, is pretty slim evidence to me. I *live* here and subscribe to the Daily Star, and I can attest that it is pretty un-New York Times-like in its authoritativeness. Hayford Peirce 18:53, 13 May 2008 (CDT)

Hey, if the OED says 1921, I think it would be extraordinarily foolish to argue with that unless one had an actual earlier use in hand. I don't know what their error rate is, but it's probably pretty low. J. Noel Chiappa 19:47, 13 May 2008 (CDT)

Mmm...? My dictionary says 1921, too, but I've got a nagging doubt. Presuming that was, indeed, the first instance of its use in print, that still doesn't mean, of course that cottage industries didn't spring up till then. So, if you want to go with 1921 as the coinage date, it has to be clear that the businesses existed before that, and were called...uh...? I'm sidestepping it for now, but feel free to tackle the rewrite...anyone? Aleta Curry 20:53, 13 May 2008 (CDT)

Getting the link to those fruit wrong

Don't blame me, Robert, I was too busy knitting, spinning and weaving!! Aleta Curry 22:54, 13 November 2007 (CST)