When did the first dictionary of English idioms appear?

It's difficult to pinpoint the *first* dictionary of English idioms, as the concept of "idiom" and the desire to document them evolved over time. However, we can look at some early works that significantly contributed to the study and recording of English idioms:

* 16th Century: The "A Dictionarie in English and Latine" by Thomas Cooper (1565) included some idiomatic phrases, though not focused solely on idioms.

* 17th Century: "A Table Alphabeticall" by Robert Cawdrey (1604) was the first work to specifically address "hard words" and included some common idioms.

* 18th Century: "A Dictionary of the English Language" by Samuel Johnson (1755) included significant explanations of idiomatic phrases within its larger lexicon.

A key turning point: "A Dictionary of the English Language" by Francis Grose (1788) is often considered the first dedicated dictionary of English idioms, focusing specifically on slang, proverbs, and colloquialisms.

While the exact date of the "first" dictionary of English idioms is debated, these early works laid the foundation for the extensive dictionaries and resources available today.