Dude
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Dude" is an informal term of address, usually referring to a man or boy. Its usage and meaning have evolved over time.
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[edit] Origins and history
There is no definitive origin of the word dude. The Oxford Dictionary suggests it comes from a German dialect word meaning 'fool'. The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang cites an 1877 reference in an unpublished letter of the painter Frederick Remington: "Don't send me any more women or any more dudes," he told a correspondent who was sending him sketches. The term entered New York City slang in 1883, referring to a fastidiously sharp dresser, affecting sophistication. "Dude" was quickly applied to urbanites, especially Easterners vacationing in the West, who affected elaborate 'Wild West' dress, as paying visitors at a "dude ranch." The dude in "dude ranch" was a figure of mockery; an urban Easterner affecting the look and lifestyle of the Western cowboy, but only on a temporary basis.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the term "dude" was a popular part of African-American slang that was used by both males and females in referring to a male or males. The term was used in some black "street" novels of that era (e.g. Inner City Hoodlum p 58 and many other Donald Goines' novels).[citation needed] "Dude" was frequently used by black characters in 1970s TV shows, which included "Good Times" and "Sanford and Son". In many 1970s black films, the term was often used; for example, in the film "Blacula," the title character was referred to as "the big dude."
[edit] Use of "dude" in reference to females
Though dude had been applied to women as early as the mid-70's, its use came to a tipping point somewhere in the mid-80's. Attempts to establish dudette as the feminine form failed to present staying power. It is a fact that dude, in the prescriptive sense, can refer to both men and women. American Heritage Dictionary recognizes this in its definition dude definition 3.b., that "dudes" can be "persons of either sex."
[edit] Dude in pop culture
The term dude became prominent in surfer culture in the early '60s, but it wasn't until the mid-'70s that it started creeping into the mainstream. The following is an attempt to list the major pop culture events that have contributed to the spread of this remarkable word, in chronological order.
- 1898 - Some Dudes Can Fight, an early silent film in which a Bowery young man starts a fight with another gentleman[1][2]
- 1889 - Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome refers to dudes: "It is the town of showy hotels, patronized chiefly by dudes and ballet girls."
- 1933 - The Dude Bandit, a western in which Tod 'Ace' Carter Hoot Gibson defeats the evil moneylender Al Burton Hooper Atchley.
- 1959 - Rio Bravo, a western in which a sheriff John Wayne and deputies, including a drunk (named Dude) Dean Martin, defeat the bad guys.
- 1962 - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, western in which Lee Marvin uses the term repeatedly, especially toward Jimmy Stewart.
- 1966 - The Endless Summer, a documentary featuring the bohemian lifestyle of the surfer, including a soundtrack featuring the The Sandals.
- 1969 - Easy Rider, Peter Fonda's character defines 'dude' as "nice guy" and "regular sort of person".
- 1972 - "All the Young Dudes", a hit single performed by Mott the Hoople, written by David Bowie.
- 1972 - In British rock band T-Rex's "Rabbit Fighter" ("I saw a dude unscrewed and badly burned.")
- 1973 - Dude, a musical by Galt MacDermot.
- 1978 - Big Wednesday, a film drama depicting the surfer life in the '60s and '70s.
- 1982 - Fast Times at Ridgemont High, a wildly successful teen comedy/drama featuring Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli, the quintessential surfer dude. A sarcastic, but warm treatment, this film is largely responsible for the first wave of the mainstreaming of 'dude'.
- 1980s - Dude enters the mainstream via multiple surfer dude spoofs in film. It spreads rapidly with skateboard culture which is a direct descendant of surf culture, but is not restricted by geography. Sometime mid-decade dude crosses the gender barrier. Dude also appears frequently in the popular animated television series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
- 1985 - Less Than Zero (written by Brett Easton Ellis) is first to use the overused phrase, "No way, dude!", and the first mainstream display of dude having crossed the gender barrier. In a noteworthy scene a young woman tells her mother, "No way, dude."
- 1987 - "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" by Aerosmith tops the charts. The punk western film Dudes is released.
- 1989 - On February 17, 1989 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, introduced Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter as Ted Logan and Bill S. Preston, Esq., two righteous band dudes, bringing dude to an even wider audience. Ted uses the word "dude" 10 times in the first 15 minutes, and doesn't ever let up. The next day on February 18 the first segment of the "Wayne's World" skit aired on Saturday Night Live.
- 1989 - "Hey Dude" airs on Nickelodeon and runs for 3 years. The cast of this teenage sitcom set on a dude ranch included Christine Taylor.
- 1990 - "Don't Call Me Dude", a song by the thrash metal band Scatterbrain is released.
- 1991 - Bryan Adams and his band are credited as the "Dudes of Leisure" on Waking up the Neighbours and all subsequent albums.
- 1993 - Adam Sandler's comedy album "They're All Gonna Laugh at You" features the track "Buddy", where several characters have a conversation comprised almost entirely of the words, "Buddy", "Homie", and "Dude."
- 1997 - Good Burger features a Less Than Jake song entitled, "We're All Dudes." The chorus declares, "I'm a dude, he's a dude, she's a dude, we're all dudes, hey!" The animated series South Park also debuted on Comedy Central in August of that year featuring grade school kids who incorporate a mixture of foul language and the word "Dude" in their everyday conversation. Also, the Backyard Sports series, which debuted this year, features one character (Achmed Khan) who says dude often.
- 1998 - BASEketball, featuring Trey Parker and Matt Stone, as two young men who at one point in the film have an argument where every word is "dude" and the inflection gives meaning.
- 1998 - The Big Lebowski, featuring Jeff Bridges as "The Dude (or His Dudeness, or Duder, or, you know, El Duderino, if the speaker is not into the whole brevity thing)," an aging hippie/beach bum turns "Dude" into a way of life and a philosophy.
- 2000 - Dude, Where's My Car?, features Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott, as two young men or "dudes" who lose their car.
- 2001 - American sociologist Laura Schuft is nicknamed the DuDe.
- 2001 - American rock group Cake (band) puts out the song "Comfort Eagle" (audio sample:[3]), featuring the refrain: He is handling the money / He is serving the food / He knows about your party / He is calling you "DUDE!"
- 2002 - In the popular teen drama, Degrassi: The Next Generation, the character Gavin "Spinner" Mason uses the term constantly which is often pointed out by his peers in many episodes.
- 2003 - Dude, Where's My Country? by Michael Moore, was published. The title was a takeoff of the above movie Dude, Where's My Car?.
- 2004 - Lost, a television series where one of the main characters, Hugo "Hurley" Reyes frequently uses the word "dude" in conversation with everyone.
- 2004 - Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. The 2 main characters frequently use this word throughout the movie.
- 2005 - Supernatural (TV series), a television series, where Dean Winchester, one of the two main characters, consistently uses the word "dude" in everyday conversation.
- 2005 - The Island. The two male friends of Lincoln say they heard the word dude not knowing what it meant and repeat it many times.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- The Oxford Dictionary's Definition
- Dude - A paper submitted to American Speech.
- Dude, Where's My Dude? - Dudelicious Dissection, From Sontag to Spicoli
- Words@random: "dude"
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