[f. next vb.]
1. An act or instance of finding; in hunting language, the finding of a fox, etc.; in wider use, a discovery, e.g., of minerals, treasure, archæological remains, etc. Somewhat colloq.
1825. Southey, Lett., 30 Aug. (1856), III. 498. I only hope ’twill fit the man that finds it. And a good find he had; for it [a hat] was a new one.
1852. W. Jerdan, Autobiog., I. 157. The public, as fox-hunters say, shall have the benefit of the ‘find.’
1868. G. Stephens, Runic Monuments, I. 195. A piece unique to-day may be matcht to-morrow, for we need not despair of fresh finds.
1883. E. Pennell-Elmhirst, The Cream of Leicestershire, 299. They realised the find of a fox.
1884. The American, VII. 12 Jan., 220/2. The Paris Figaro announces a ‘find’ of letters by Beaumarchais: but the account does not seem trustworthy.
1887. R. Murray, Geol. Victoria, 159. The Frying-pan gold-field, where some good finds were made.
2. concr. That which is found.
1847. in Halliwell.
1858. T. McCombie, Hist. Victoria, xv. 218. The great ‘finds’ of gold were, however, first discovered on the old Golden Point on Forest Creek, and on the hills and gullies adjoining.
1865. Lubbock, Preh. Times, i. (1869), 12. Bronze weapons are entirely absent from the great ‘finds’ of the Iron Age.
3. A sure find: a. Sporting, a place where a ‘find’ is sure to be made; b. colloq. one who or something which is sure to be found.
1838. Thackeray, Yellowplush Papers, vii. Mis son was a sure find (as they say) during his illness.
1866. H. W. Wheelwright, Sporting Sketches, 335. In every hunt there are certain crack meets—coverts which are sure finds.
4. Comb., as find-spot, the place of finding.
1876. J. Fergusson, Indian Archit., I. vii. 170 note. He could only ascertain the ‘find spot’ of five or six [specimens].
