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What's in a word,

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For instance the word "model"
I spent some years feeling good about myself every time I heard my first wife describe me as a "model husband" until one day I came across the word in a dictionary. It said "model" ..a small imitation of the real thing!!

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Originally posted by muppyman
For instance the word "model"
I spent some years feeling good about myself every time I heard my first wife describe me as a "model husband" until one day I came across the word in a dictionary. It said "model" ..a small imitation of the real thing!!
LOL!!

How about 'dude' that's what we called eachother in school but it really means fool from German dialect.

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Originally posted by yo its me
LOL!!

How about 'dude' that's what we called eachother in school but it really means fool from German dialect.
Hm, where did you hear that? I don't know of any German word that sounds similar. Of course if it's dialect, I may never have heard it. But the Online Etymology Dictionary (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=d&p=19) doesn't say anything about that either:

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).

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So dudette is completely wrong huh! 😉

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Originally posted by Nordlys
Hm, where did you hear that? I don't know of any German word that sounds similar. Of course if it's dialect, I may never have heard it. But the Online Etymology Dictionary (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=d&p=19) doesn't say anything about that either:

dude
1883, "fastidious man," New York City slang of unknown origin. The vogue word of 1883, ...[text shortened]... le is first recorded c.1970. Female form dudine (1883) has precedence over dudess (1885).
I use the Oxford Dictonary.
http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/dude?view=uk

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Originally posted by yo its me
I use the Oxford Dictonary.
http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/dude?view=uk
Ah, interesting - I found it in Grimm's dictionary, an old and very extensive German dictionary (started by the Grimm brothers who are otherwise most known for their collection of fairy tales). I am guessing that it's an old word that isn't in use anymore.

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Originally posted by Nordlys
Ah, interesting - I found it in Grimm's dictionary, an old and very extensive German dictionary (started by the Grimm brothers who are otherwise most known for their collection of fairy tales). I am guessing that it's an old word that isn't in use anymore.
That would make sense, that it's an old word.

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Originally posted by Nordlys
Ah, interesting - I found it in Grimm's dictionary, an old and very extensive German dictionary (started by the Grimm brothers who are otherwise most known for their collection of fairy tales). I am guessing that it's an old word that isn't in use anymore.
I know that duud means taub in Suebian, any connection?

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