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mahatmakanejeeves

(56,886 posts)
Sun Mar 25, 2018, 03:12 PM Mar 2018

7 Good Stories That Just Aren't True: No, that's not where that word comes from.

Though the Duesenberg was a very impressive car, it was not the source of 'doozy.'



7 Good Stories That Just Aren't True

No, that's not where that word comes from
....

Doozy

Definition: an extraordinary one of its kind

The Duesenberg car company produced very fine cars in the early 20th century. The word doozy appears in writing somewhere near the beginning of the 20th century. Therefore doozy must be a shortening of Duesenberg, mustn’t it? Isn’t this how etymology works? No, it mustn’t, and no, it isn’t.

The obvious problem with saying that doozy comes from Duesenberg is that the former is older than the latter. The car company did not start producing vehicles until 1920, and the word had been in use for more than 20 years by that time. The argument that the name of the car may not have come first but possibly helped doozy become popular is also problematic, as we have no evidence linking the two terms in the early 20th century. Doozy most likely came about as an alteration of daisy, which in 19th century slang was something or someone considered the best.

How do farmers like it? It is just simply a doozy.
—The Democrat (McKinley, TX), 26 Mar. 1896

The Democratic party would soon become what Cy. Lyle might call a “doozy” under the leadership of such men as Mr. Davis.
—The Comet (Johnson City, TN), 17 Mar. 1904

He nailed a “doozy” toward center field which looked like a hit.
—Daily Illinois State Register, (Springfield, IL), 25 Aug. 1907


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7 Good Stories That Just Aren't True: No, that's not where that word comes from. (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Mar 2018 OP
Bookmarking. Love these kinds of posts. underpants Mar 2018 #1
Everybody knows they call it "golf" because Ohio Dem Mar 2018 #2
Golf was originally Gowff Wolf Frankula Mar 2018 #3
You're no daisy... Wounded Bear Mar 2018 #4
And FUCK does not stand for "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" either. Ron Obvious Mar 2018 #5
 

Ron Obvious

(6,261 posts)
5. And FUCK does not stand for "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" either.
Mon Mar 26, 2018, 07:44 AM
Mar 2018

Or Fornication Under Charles the King. It's an old English/Germanic word.

I'm sure the Merriam Webster people would have wanted to include it, but shied away.

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