1858 ‘Q.K. Philander Doesticks’ Witches of N.Y. 224: Liquor [...] warranted to kill at forty rods.at forty-rod (lightning) (n.) under forty, adj.1
1858 ‘Q.K. Philander Doesticks’ Witches of N.Y. 54: The propinquity of the ‘lottery agency’ and the ‘policy-shop,’ just round the corner.at policy, n.