Just a sec

[redpenner]

Can anyone tell me when English speakers started to abbreviate "second" to "sec" (as in "just a sec", "in a sec", "a couple of secs"). I've tried to find info on this informal usage on the net but haven't had any luck.

[Rusty]

Can anyone tell me when English speakers started to abbreviate "second" to "sec" (as in "just a sec", "in a sec", "a couple of secs"). I've tried to find info on this informal usage on the net but haven't had any luck.
Shortened form sec first recorded 1860.
From this site (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=sec&searchmode=nl)