[PW] Re: Collection of "zebras"

[swguardian-stumpers at yahoo.com]

No proof, but try this one. You might recall that historically RR crossings had black and white stripes on their crossing gates. Zebra crossing gates.
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  Van Wert Daily Bulletin, The  
23 August 1916 
  Van Wert, Ohio 
   
  The Pennsylvania has directed that another innovation toward the conservation of human life and the safeguarding of crossings shall be given an immediate trial in Fort Wayne and to that end all crossing gates of the Pennsylvania in that city are being repainted the colors used being black and white in stripes... 
   
  [The article also has contains the following] 
   
  For the inebriate and late goer home, who has tarried long at the wine cup the sight of zebra crossing gates may not add any to bis peace of mind, but it is certain that these stripes can be seen farther at night and this is the chief object of the Pennsylvania to prevent the possible accident which may crown some of its crossings with horror.
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TED NESBITT <NESBITTT at westliberty.edu> wrote:
  I am trying to track down the ORIGIN for one of the collective terms for zebras, a "crossing of zebras."

They are also found in "herds" and "zeals," but I don't need those.

James Lipton doesn't mention zebras in his "Exaltation of Larks." I have exhausted our phrase and slang dictionaries.

The Oxford English Dictionary mentions a "zebra crossing." [1951 and other dates] The OED credits a 1949 reference to "full-scale trials of the striped (zebra) markings for pedestrian crossings."

I suppose that someone decided, too cutely, to make up the collective term, "crossing of zebras," after the pedestrian crossings became known as "zebras."

Does anyone have a better idea?

Thanks. 

Ted Nesbitt


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