Dartblog

The citations in the Oxford English Dictionary for ‘easter egg’ run from 1601 to 2000:

[1601 J. VAN NECK Jrnl. Voy. Eight Shippes of Amsterdam f. 56v, The second day (being Easter day) we were allowed to our Easter egges a dish of small beanes with a dish of dried fish, and a kan of sacke, in lieu of Arack.]

1737 tr. C. de Bruyn Trav. into Muscovy I. 31/2 They then begin to give Easter eggs, which continues for a fortnight, a custom as well among the great as the small, the old as the young, who mutually make each other presents of them.

1772 tr. Antidote 199 The custom of giving eggs is only among the common people; and that not alone in Russia, but in Germany, and many other countries, where every one undeniably has heard of Easter eggs.

1804 M. WILMOT Let. 11 May in M. Wilmot & C. Wilmot Russ. Jrnls. (1934) I. 97, I must not forget Easter Sunday… The service is the same, and after it is over Easter Eggs are presented painted and carv’d and decorated in a variety of ways.

1825 W. HONE Every-day Bk. I. 426 Easter Eggs..pass about at Easter week under the name of pask, paste, or pace eggs.

1894 G. DU MAURIER Trilby I. I. 34 They would..marvel at the beautiful assortment of bonbons..especially, at this particular time of the year, the monstrous Easter-egg, of enchanting hue.

1921 Times 5 Mar. 7/1 A window filled with gorgeous Easter eggs, dominated by a chocolate one that any nursery would be glad to welcome.

1974 B. BUCKLEY & J. HAMILTON Festival 90 Past Mrs Raffles’ lolly shop, with quilted Easter eggs in golden foil, and fat doughnuts with red jam eyes.

1979 Sunset Apr. 168/1 (heading) Swirls of color ‘marbleize’ these Easter eggs. Blow your own or buy them already blown.

2000 Victorian July 10/1 Thanks in part to the artistic world’s continued fascination with his Imperial Easter eggs, the name of Carl Fabergé comes easily to mind when one is asked to name a famous jeweller-goldsmith.