Oxford English Dictionary

[ON THE ROAD]

Can anyone tell me (a) which was the first named shoe-brand to appear in the above dictionary and (b) how do you establish when a word first makes it's entry.
Thanks

[Quizmonster]

Well, Oxford shoes have been around since the 1840s and the Wellington boot since 30 years earlier, though whether one may consider those brands - rather than just styles - I'm not sure.
The editors of the OED invariably try to establish the earliest reference for words and phrases and that is printed in the dictionary. However, if you saw the recent TV series called Balderdash and Piffle, you will know that they are always open to persuasion that members of the public can find even earlier uses of any word or phrase. If they are convinced, it is adopted in readiness for the next edition or the online version.