See quot. 1784.
1784. The honey-locust is curiously surrounded with large thorny spikes, bearing broad and long pods, in form of peas, has a sweet taste, and makes excellent beer.—John Filson’s ‘Kentucke,’ p. 23.
1817. The alluvion [land produces] … honey-locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), &c.—John Bradbury, ‘Travels,’ p. 258.
1818. The honey-locust, with its sharp interlocking spines, exemplifying the curse of Eden.—Henry C. Knight (‘Arthur Singleton’), ‘Letters from the South and West,’ p. 87 (Boston, 1824).
1833. [I can] slip without a scratch down a honey locust.—‘Sketches of D. Crockett,’ p. 164. (For a fuller citation see HALF HORSE, HALF ALLIGATOR.)
1848. I often had to encounter a dead honey-locust in the field.—Dr. D. Drake, ‘Pioneer Life in Kentucky,’ p. 69. (For a fuller citation see MAUL.)
1855. He ran up that tree like an orang-otang; drew out his barker, squatted on his haunches, with the felicity and grace of a black bear at a honey-gum, and challenged me to a regular exchange of shots.—W. G. Simms, ‘Border Beagles,’ p. 317 (N.Y.).
