The N.E.D. gives instances 1500–1889. Mr. F. T. Elworthy in Notes and Queries, 9 S. iv. 461, says that in the W. of England the word still means sprightly, joyous, healthy, fresh, happy, which is just the American meaning.
1820. “I felt quite rich, when I found my knife, flint, and steel in my shot pouch. These little fixens,” added he, “make a man feel right peart, when he is three or four hundred miles from any body or any place—alone among the painters and wild varments.”—James Hall, ‘Letters from the West,’ p. 304 (Lond.).
1833. She flew round among the folks mighty peart, I tell you.—James Hall, ‘Legends of the West,’ p. 88. (Italics in the original.) [For fuller quot. see FIX.]
1833. I wish that fellow would shut the door; he must think that we were all raised in a saw-mill, and then he looks so peert whenever he comes in.—C. F. Hoffman, ‘A Winter in the Far West,’ i. 209. (Italics in the original.)
1842. Among the peculiar expressions used [in Georgia], travelling rapidly is called “moving peert;” and to provide a family with food, or to feed them, is expressed thus:—“He always grows enough to bread his own people for a year at least, and sells the balance.”—J. S. Buckingham, ‘Slave States,’ ii. 167.
1846. She expressed her opinion that I “must feel right peart to be out that airly.”—E. W. Farnham, ‘Life in Prairie Land,’ p. 26.
1847. Dicey is a middlin’ peart gal, but for my part I don’t see what the taler seed in her.—T. B. Thorpe, ‘The Big Bear of Arkansas: Billy Warwick’s Courtship and Wedding,’ p. 100 (Phila.).
1855. So out we goes to the paw-paw thicket, and pealed (sic) a right peart chance o’ bark.—Oregon Weekly Times, May 12.
1856. A tea-spoonful of that ar, morn and night, and in a week you’ll be round agin, as pert as a cricket!—H. B. Stowe, ‘Dred,’ ch. viii.
1869. She’s tolerable peert—the old ’oman is. Oh, she’s on it, you bet!—J. Ross Browne, ‘Adventures in the Apache Country,’ p. 334.
1885. [He assured me] that if I would deign to confer on him the honor of my presence, he would prove it to be quite safe, and as “peert” a steamer as ever sailed.—Mrs. Custer, ‘Boots and Saddles,’ p. 188 (N.Y.).
1888. Both of them [the boys], from being starved, wretched, and dull, grew quite “peart” under her [Eliza’s] good care.—The same, ‘Tenting on the Plains,’ pp. 170–1.
1890. To tell the truth, gineral, our family never was very peart for caring much about each other.—The same, ‘Following the Guidon,’ p. 56 (N.Y.).
