[PW] First appearance of 'gay'

[Carol Fuller]

There was an interesting question that came through yesterday. The patron wanted to know when the term 'gay' in a homosexual context first appeared in a mainstream dictionary. We found it mentioned in OED and other sources as to when it was used in publications; but, we could not find a first sighting as a regular definition.
Any ideas?

Carol S. Fuller
Librarian I
Humanities, Fine Arts & Recreation
Columbus Metropolitan Library
cfuller at columbuslibrary.org