A mode of address once current, and meant to be friendly.
1817. A man who was mowing at some distance from the road, hailed me with the common, but to us quaint appellation of “stranger.”—M. Birkbeck, ‘Journey in America,’ p. 97 (Phila.).
1823. I walked up to a farm log-house, the people of which put their heads out of the window and thus addressed me,—“Stranger, come into the fire!” and I went in, without being burned.——W. Faux, ‘Memorable Days in America,’ p. 172 (Lond.).
1838. On learning, in reply to his inquiry, “Whence do ye come, stranger?” that my birth-spot was north of the Potomac, he hailed me with hearty greeting and warm grasp as a brother.—E. Flagg, ‘The Far West,’ i. 104 (N.Y.).
1838. See DOINGS.
1841. “Pray, what might your name be, stranger?” Taking advantage of his peculiar phraseology, I replied, “It might be Beelzebub, sir!”—Yale Lit. Mag., vi. 361 (Aug.).
1844. See SAWYER.
1845. See NO TWO WAYS.
1847. See PAINTER.
1855. What’s your name? There’s no pleasure in calling a man ‘stranger’ every minute, when you’re talking and drinking together all the while.—W. G. Simms, ‘Border Beagles,’ p. 19 (N.Y.).
1878. Oh, stranger, that war was a powerful sight o’ trouble to us all!—J. H. Beadle, ‘Western Wilds,” p. 43.
