Dude! That’s An Insult : Know The Untold Story Behind the Cool Word

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"Dude" - a word we toss around so casually today, but what if it's not as straightforward as it seems? It's the kind of term we use to refer to a friend, a buddy, or even just anyone in passing, but its origins go much deeper than a simple, laid-back greeting. Curious to know about it, then read on.

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Origin Of Dude

The word "dude" has a murky origin, but researchers have proposed a theory. A group, led by etymologist Gerald Cohen from Missouri University of Science and Technology, spent years digging through old texts and concluded that "dude" likely stems from "Yankee Doodle" and the British term "fopdoodle," which referred to a foolish, overly fashionable man.

Cohen explains, "To be a 'dude' at the time, you had to be young, slender, brainless and imitating what they thought was high British culture. They became a staple of humour."

In 1883, Robert Sale Hill published a poem in The New York World that painted a picture of young men in cities obsessing over their appearance, claiming to appreciate avant-garde art, and puffing away on small cigarettes. These dandies were the 19th-century equivalent of today's hipsters. Hill used the word "dude" to describe them, marking the first known use of the term in this sense.

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Etymologists Barry Popik and Cohen believe Hill likely borrowed "dude" from "doodle," as in "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Cohen explains that the term "Yankee Doodle" originally described a country bumpkin who thought he could pass for fashionable by sticking a feather in his cap and calling it "macaroni."

In the 18th century, "macaroni" referred to a fashionable young man who had spent time in Europe, adopting the latest fashion trends. So, by mimicking this style, the rough American colonists were seen as out of touch and somewhat foolish.

Popik and Cohen's research, which spans years of combing through 19th-century periodicals, has uncovered countless references to "dude." Their findings, published in Cohen's journal Comments on Etymology, provide the most thorough account yet of the word's early days.

So, how did "dude" come about? It seems it all started with "doodle," as in "Yankee Doodle Dandy," the man who, in the song, "stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni." A simple yet lasting label for a man who thought he was more fashionable than he really was.

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When Dude Was A Derogatory Word

The term "dude" didn't just pop up out of nowhere; it had to travel its own long, winding road before it became the go-to word for a laid-back guy. As the term spread across America, it found its home in the West, where it quickly became linked to the city men who ventured there in search of the rugged frontier life, but with a bit of luxury.

These men, often wealthy and unaccustomed to hard work, became known as the visitors of "dude ranches." However, calling someone a "dude" wasn't a compliment in those days. It was a jab at their lack of grit and toughness, their soft, pretentious ways that couldn't possibly match the rough-and-tumble spirit of the true cowboy.

Even Theodore Roosevelt, fresh from New York society, was labelled a "dude" by the seasoned cowboys he tried to impress when he first moved out West. But Roosevelt didn't back down, and his hard work eventually earned him some respect, though the term stuck with him for a while.

'Dude' Over The Years

Interestingly, it was in early 1883 that someone decided to call the foppish young men of New York "doods," with the spelling quickly shifting to "dudes." The descriptions of these early "dudes" are eerily familiar: "A weak mustache, a cigarette, a thirteen-button vest/A curled rim hat-a minaret-two watch chains across the breast." Sounds like today's version of a hipster, doesn't it?

Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, "dude" maintained its original meaning of a well-dressed man, although there were attempts to create a feminine version, "dudine," which never caught on.

By the 1900s, the word "dude" had made its way back to the East Coast, and with it came the now-iconic "dude ranches." Jess Zafarris, an etymologist, puts it best, "They were definitely the fancy tourists of the time."

Fast forward to the '30s and '40s, and the term was being redefined again, this time by Black youth in Harlem and Mexican-American Pachucos, who wore zoot suits as a symbol of defiance and style.

In fact, a 1942 article described dude ranches as "genuine ranches where genuine cowboys punch genuine cattle," while the dudes who visited were anything but the foppish dandies they were originally associated with.

"For these communities, 'dude' became a badge of solidarity," explains sociolinguist Valerie Fridland. By the 1960s, it was widely used to refer to any cool, confident man.

Rise Of Dudeism

By the time the 1960s rolled around, "dude" had found a new home in the surf culture, where it was casually tossed around to describe any guy, but with a special twist it was a term for someone who embraced the relaxed, carefree vibe of the surf scene.

Around the same time, "dudette" tried to make its mark as the feminine equivalent, but, much like the word "dudine" in the 19th century, it never really caught on. Fast forward to the 1970s, and "dude" became synonymous with the easygoing guy you could hang out with, a one who didn't take life too seriously.

The defining moment, however, came in 1998 with The Big Lebowski. Jeff Bridges' portrayal of "The Dude" brought the term into pop culture immortality, cementing it as a symbol of the ultimate chill lifestyle.

This laid-back persona even gave rise to Dudeism, a quirky religion based on simplicity and taking it easy. From its humble beginnings making fun of foppish 19th-century men, "dude" evolved into a beloved term of camaraderie and coolness.

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To tie it all together, the word "dude" might have started as an insult, but its journey shows how we can redefine things over time. It's a reminder that meaning isn't fixed, it changes with context and culture.