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More than 500 modern phrases include Indian, most of them U.S. and most impugning honesty or intelligence, e.g. Indian giver, first attested 1765 in Indian gift:
"An Indian gift is a proverbial expression, signifying a present for which an equivalent return is expected." [Thomas Hutchinson, "History of Massachusetts Bay," 1765]
Meaning "one who gives a gift and then asks for it back" first attested 1892.

Source: etmology.com

Posted By: Johnny Comecardiff, Dec 17, 13:24:01