I am curious as to how and when (generally) tailgate came to be used as a verb instead of a noun, in reference to one driver failing to leave a safe distance between his/her vehicle and the one in front of him/her. Even the PA Turnpike now has flashing signs, warning "Please do not tailgate". I think the evolution of the usage related to parties, especially in connection with football games, is easier to follow intuitively, but I would be interested in any comments or documentation of that use of "tailgate" as a verb as well.
I found an example in a Hardy Boys" Mysteries published in 1947, completed in 1946: #26 The phantom freighter
Joe said, being careful not to tailgate the truck.
The phantom freighter
Franklin W. Dixon
... being careful not to tailgate the truck. ...
Any earlier?
The earliest entry in the Oxford English Dictionary is 1951. The first usage as an adjective relating to a tailgate picnic is 1970.
Glenn, you might want to submit your find to them.
Emmett
Lulos, you may already have known, but the original tailgate is the back door on a station wagon, which could open sideways or down as the owner chose. Â I suppose a tailgate party preferred that door down, so as to serve as a table to hold goodies.
I can see "tailgate party" coming from that, but it also is easy for me to imagine that the verb came from the same place, ie "don't tailgate" means "don't get so close to that car's tailgate". Â But judging by Glenn's citation the verb may be even older than that. Â Maybe the original tailgate was on a pickup truck.
Bob Bridges said:
... Â Maybe the original tailgate was on a pickup truck.
The OED says on a wagon in 1868.
Emmett