was it michaelangelo in the turtles??
2006-07-29 11:08:26 · 22 answers · asked by P 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
dude
1883, "fastidious man," New York City slang of unknown origin. The vogue word of 1883, originally used in ref. to the devotees of the "aesthetic" craze, later applied to city slickers, especially Easterners vacationing in the West (dude ranch first recorded 1921). Surfer slang application to any male is first recorded c.1970. Female form dudine (1883) has precedence over dudess (1885).
2006-07-29 11:13:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
dude
n.
Informal. An Easterner or city person who vacations on a ranch in the West.
Informal. A man who is very fancy or sharp in dress and demeanor.
Slang.
A man; a fellow.
dudes Persons of either sex.
tr.v. dud·ed, dud·ing, dudes
Slang. To dress elaborately or flamboyantly: got all duded up for the show.
interj. Slang
Used to express approval, satisfaction, or congratulations
I also thought a dude was a hair on an elephant's butt...but that wasn't in the dictionary.
2006-07-29 18:16:29 · answer #2 · answered by i_hate_subway 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. A man; a guy.
2. A city man, especially an Easterner holidaying in the West.
3. A man preoccupied with dressing smartly.
2006-07-31 16:16:01 · answer #3 · answered by Hedgehog 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Etymology: origin unknown
1 : a man extremely fastidious in dress and manner : DANDY
2 : a city dweller unfamiliar with life on the range; especially : an Easterner in the West
3 : FELLOW, GUY -- sometimes used informally as a term of address
2006-07-29 18:11:54 · answer #4 · answered by My Evil Twin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word "dude" came about in the early 1950s as western ranches began opening as vacation spots for city people seeking to experience country life. Invariably, these city folk weren't used to watching where they were walking and stepped in "doody." It became so common, that the ranch hands began referring to the city folks as "dudes" a shortened form of "doody." The city folk, oblivious to the meaning of "dudes" carried the word back to the city and described the ranches as "dude ranches" and it has stuck.
Dudefully answered.
2006-07-29 18:16:44 · answer #5 · answered by GentleheartedOne 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is an an amalgamation of two words, dunce(British English for educationally sub normal) and attitude,(frame of mind) hence DUDE . Therefore, certainly no term of endearment!
2006-07-29 18:30:00 · answer #6 · answered by Raymo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an Americanism that's been in use since the 1880's at least, but it's etymology is completely unknown.
2006-07-29 18:12:47 · answer #7 · answered by Entwined 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an extension of Dud. Going by all the dense surfers that started it.
2006-07-29 18:13:02 · answer #8 · answered by JeffE 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dude is a hair on an elephants butt
2006-07-29 18:12:56 · answer #9 · answered by wzrdsndrgns 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably Spanish slang for amigo.
2006-08-01 14:45:06 · answer #10 · answered by sprite 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋