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Dud

A dud is a noun referring to an object, person, or endeavor that fails to operate or perform as expected, often resulting in disappointment or ineffectiveness.^[1] In military contexts, it specifically denotes a bomb, shell, or explosive device that does not detonate upon impact.^[2] More broadly, the term applies to any unsatisfactory or worthless item, such as a faulty product or a commercial flop, and can describe a person perceived as a misfit or underachiever.^[3] The plural form duds historically means clothing, particularly rags or personal belongings, though this usage has become archaic in modern English.^[1] The word "dud" traces its origins to Middle English around 1355, initially as a term for a cloak or garment, evolving from an uncertain Old English root possibly related to "dudde," denoting ragged or worn-out attire.^[4] By the early 19th century, specifically around 1825, "dud" had shifted in slang to describe a person in ragged clothing, later extending to a counterfeit item by 1897 and to any ineffective entity by the early 20th century, including undetonated shells during World War I.^[5] This semantic progression from apparel to failure reflects broader linguistic patterns in English slang, where terms for substandard goods metaphorically apply to broader disappointments.^[5] Today, "dud" remains a common informal expression in American and British English, frequently used in entertainment reviews (e.g., a "box-office dud") and everyday critiques of malfunctioning technology or events.^[6]

Definitions

As Obsolete Slang for Clothing

In historical English slang, "dud" or more commonly "duds" (plural) referred to articles of clothing, often implying rags, worn-out garments, or shabby attire. This usage originated in Middle English around the late 13th century from the term dudde, denoting a cloak, mantle, or coarse cloth item, possibly derived from an unattested Old English dudda.^[7]^[1] By the 16th century, the word had broadened to encompass general apparel, particularly in informal or derogatory contexts, such as tattered or low-quality clothing associated with poverty.^[8] During the 19th century, "duds" persisted as slang for clothing in both British and American English, frequently appearing in literature and dictionaries to describe everyday or poor-quality outfits. In British usage, John Camden Hotten's A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words (1859) defined "duds" simply as "clothes," reflecting its common colloquial application in urban and working-class speech.^[9] Similarly, in American contexts, John Russell Bartlett's Dictionary of Americanisms (1848) described "duds" as "rags; old clothes," a term borrowed from Gaelic dud and used across regions to denote personal effects or threadbare attire.^[10] Literary examples from the era, such as in Scottish-influenced works, portrayed "duds" as symbols of destitution, emphasizing the social stigma of ragged dress. Regional variations included Scottish English, where "dud" (singular) specifically meant a rag, cloth scrap, or shabby piece of clothing, often in proverbial expressions like "Every dud bids anither gude-day," implying that the ragged greet each other familiarly. This sense, attested from the 16th century onward, highlighted the word's ties to coarse fabrics and everyday utility in northern dialects.^[11] Over time, the slang evolved from apparel to broader connotations of uselessness, though the clothing sense became obsolete by the mid-20th century.^[5]

As a Failure or Useless Object

In contemporary usage, "dud" primarily refers to a person, object, or endeavor that proves entirely ineffective or unsuccessful, failing to meet expectations or perform its intended function. This sense emphasizes disappointment through underperformance, as seen in descriptions of a "box office dud" for a film that attracts minimal audience or revenue despite high anticipation.^[1] The term conveys a sense of inherent flaw or worthlessness, distinguishing it from mere mediocrity by implying total uselessness.^[3] The word operates in both literal and figurative contexts. Literally, it describes tangible items that malfunction or lack utility, such as a dud battery that fails to power a device or dud fireworks that do not ignite.^[12] Figuratively, it extends to abstract or intangible failures, like a dud investment that yields no returns or a dud social event that falls flat in engagement.^[3] This figurative application highlights the term's versatility in critiquing outcomes across domains, from business ventures to personal interactions, without implying external sabotage—only intrinsic inadequacy. The evolution from its obsolete slang for clothing, which implied ragged or valueless attire, laid the groundwork for this connotation of uselessness.^[1] Grammatically, "dud" functions predominantly as a noun (e.g., "the project was a dud") or adjective (e.g., "a dud check" that bounces due to insufficient funds).^[13]

Etymology and Historical Evolution

Middle English Origins

The earliest recorded use of the word "dud" dates to around 1355 in Middle English, appearing as "dudde" to denote a cloak, mantle, or piece of coarse cloth.^[4] This foundational meaning established "dudde" as a term for outer garments, often implying simplicity or roughness in material.^[7] The etymology of "dudde" remains uncertain, with possible roots in an unattested Old English form *dudda, known only through personal names like Dudda, or influences from Celtic languages, such as Welsh dilled ("cloak").^[4] The Oxford English Dictionary notes no definitive origin, though connections to Proto-Germanic *dud- ("something ragged") have been proposed.^[7] In 14th- and 15th-century Middle English texts and inventories, "duds" (the plural form) frequently referred to basic garments or rags, highlighting their everyday utility in medieval wardrobes.^[7] These usages underscore the term's initial focus on clothing rather than later connotations of inadequacy.

19th-Century Development

By the early 19th century, the term "dud" began to evolve beyond its earlier associations with clothing, taking on connotations of inferiority and fraud in British slang. Around 1825, it shifted to describe a "useless person" or someone dressed in ragged attire, reflecting a derogatory extension from worn-out garments to personal inadequacy.^[14] This usage appeared in Scottish etymological works, marking a key transition in urban vernacular where "dud" implied incompetence or worthlessness.^[15] By the mid-1800s, the word further expanded to denote counterfeit items, such as fake currency or bad checks. The spread of this slang was influenced by the bustling urban environments of London and the expanding American frontiers, where it permeated newspapers, literature, and everyday speech from the 1830s through the 1890s. Across the Atlantic, American frontier journalism and novels adopted the term similarly; for instance, reports in 1840s dime novels and newspapers used "dud" for fraudulent goods peddled by swindlers. Mark Twain further illustrated this in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), where "duds" referred to clothing in a deceptive context, such as the king's "all black" outfit that transformed his appearance amid underlying fraudulence.^[16] By mid-century, the plural form "duds" had firmly established itself as slang for clothing in general, often carrying a tone of casual disdain that bridged the word's original textile roots to its broader sense of uselessness. This solidification is evident in 1850s American and British texts, where "duds" denoted personal belongings or outfits of little value, paving the way for the term's later applications to any failed or ineffective object. In this period, the dual usage—clothing as both literal and metaphorical rags—reinforced "dud's" trajectory toward implying fraud or failure without direct ties to military contexts.

20th-Century Military and Modern Shifts

The term "dud" took on significant new connotations during World War I (1914–1918), when British soldiers applied it to unexploded artillery shells, termed "dud shells," which failed to detonate upon impact. This military usage, first recorded in 1915 but popularized amid the war's extensive shelling, marked a shift from earlier senses related to clothing or counterfeits, establishing "dud" as a descriptor for mechanical or explosive unreliability. According to Chambers Etymological Dictionary, this application directly catalyzed the word's extension by the 1920s to denote any form of failure, reflecting the high-stakes frustration of battlefield malfunctions.^[17]^[5] Post-World War I, the slang disseminated widely into American English through returning troops and transatlantic exchanges, with the Oxford English Dictionary citing its first U.S. appearance in 1919 as a colloquial term for something ineffective or worthless. By the 1930s and 1940s, this evolved into everyday applications for defective consumer goods, such as a "dud lightbulb" that refused to illuminate, underscoring the word's growing association with commercial disappointments in an era of rapid industrialization and mass production.^[17]^[5] In the mid-20th century, particularly from the 1940s onward, "dud" broadened further into cultural critiques, especially in Hollywood where film reviewers dismissed underperforming pictures as "dud movies" for failing to captivate audiences or recoup investments. This usage, building on the term's failure motif, highlighted the entertainment industry's volatility, with examples appearing in period journalism to lambast box-office flops amid the postwar boom in cinema. The shift solidified "dud" as a versatile pejorative for underwhelming endeavors across domains, enduring into modern vernacular.^[5]^[17]

Contexts of Usage

In Military and Explosives

In military contexts, a dud refers to an explosive device, such as a bomb, mine, or artillery shell, that has completed its arming and firing sequence but fails to detonate due to manufacturing defects, fuse malfunctions, or environmental factors.^[18] These failures often stem from issues in the fuze system, where safety mechanisms may not disengage properly or the initiator fails to function, rendering the ordnance inert upon impact.^[19] During World War II, dud rates for aerial bombs were approximately 10%, as seen with German ordnance dropped during the Blitz, where around 10% of the 24,000 tonnes targeting London failed to explode.^[20] Historical incidents highlight the persistent hazards of such duds, particularly in Normandy following the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, where unexploded Allied and Axis ordnance littered beaches and inland areas, posing immediate risks to advancing troops and later civilians during reconstruction.^[21] In western France, including Normandy, unexploded ordnance continues to be recovered and poses ongoing risks, with incidents causing injuries or fatalities during farming, construction, or recreational activities.^[21] These remnants, often buried shallowly or exposed by erosion, remain volatile today due to chemical degradation in their explosives and fuzes, increasing the likelihood of spontaneous explosion compared to their original state.^[20] Modern protocols for handling unexploded ordnance (UXO), including duds, are managed by specialized units like the U.S. military's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, which follow standardized procedures for location, identification, render-safe operations, and final disposal to mitigate risks to personnel and populations.^[22] EOD technicians employ non-intrusive assessment techniques, such as visual inspection and advanced detection tools, before deciding on controlled detonation, disassembly, or long-term containment, in accordance with Department of Defense directives that prioritize safety and environmental protection.^[23] These protocols have evolved to address global UXO challenges, ensuring that duds from conflicts like World War II are systematically cleared from former battlefields and training areas. As of 2025, France continues to discover and dispose of WWII-era unexploded ordnance, with millions of items remaining from both world wars, though civilian fatalities remain rare.^[24] The term "dud" extends to civilian pyrotechnics, where a dud firework is a device that fails to ignite or produce its intended effect after activation, often due to manufacturing flaws or improper storage, and is treated with similar caution to prevent injury.^[25] Under National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, such as NFPA 1123 for outdoor displays, duds and failed devices must be isolated immediately, allowed to cool for at least 15-20 minutes, and then soaked in water or disposed of in a safe, non-combustible container to avoid secondary ignition or explosion.^[26] These regulations emphasize professional oversight during displays, prohibiting relighting attempts and mandating post-event sweeps to collect and neutralize all duds, thereby reducing fire and injury risks associated with consumer and professional fireworks.

In Entertainment and Media

In the realm of film and television, the term "dud" has been employed by critics since at least the 1920s to denote productions that fail to deliver on commercial or artistic expectations, often manifesting as low box office returns or poor audience reception.^[27] Archives from Variety magazine, a key chronicler of the entertainment industry, reveal early applications, such as a 1930 review dismissing a romantic comedy as a "dud" due to its lack of humor and execution.^[27] By the mid-20th century, the phrase "box office dud" became a staple in industry jargon for films that underperform financially despite high budgets, as seen in critiques of 1980s releases like Ishtar (1987), which was lambasted as a "$40 million-plus box office dud" for its critical panning and meager earnings relative to costs.^[28] This terminology extends to music and publishing, where "dud album" or "dud novel" describes works that flop commercially or critically, particularly in the 2000s when market saturation amplified such labels. In music journalism, albums like No Doubt's Push and Shove (2012) were derided as duds for failing to recapture the band's earlier energy, resulting in subdued sales and mixed reviews amid shifting industry dynamics.^[29] Similarly, in publishing, critics have applied "dud novel" to books that disappoint despite hype, as in a 2008 Guardian commentary on literary prizes decrying selections as "a dud novel from a duff shortlist," highlighting perceived shortcomings in narrative quality and market viability.^[30] The persistence of "dud" in entertainment critiques underscores its evolution from general failure slang to a precise industry marker, tracked through Variety's historical coverage, which documents its use in assessing everything from silent-era shorts to modern blockbusters.^[31] This application emphasizes underperformance in creative output, distinguishing it from mere financial losses by focusing on the work's inability to engage audiences or fulfill promises.

In Everyday Slang and Idioms

In everyday language, "dud" commonly denotes something or someone that disappoints by failing to meet expectations or perform adequately, often applied to ordinary objects or experiences. For instance, a "dud battery" refers to a power source that does not function properly, leaving devices inoperable despite appearing functional.^[32] Similarly, phrases like "total dud" describe underwhelming personal encounters, such as a disappointing date or an unexciting gift that falls flat, evoking a sense of letdown in casual conversation.^[1] This usage underscores the word's versatility in expressing everyday frustrations with malfunctioning or subpar items. Regional variations highlight nuanced applications of the term. In British English, "dud" frequently implies something counterfeit or fraudulent, particularly "dud money" or "dud notes" for fake currency that deceives users.^[33] By contrast, American English tends to emphasize personal shortcomings, as in "he's a dud," a colloquial label for an ineffective or boring individual, a sense that gained traction in the mid-20th century following the word's evolution from military contexts denoting unexploded ordnance.^[1] These distinctions reflect broader cultural preferences in slang, with British usage leaning toward deception and American toward incompetence. Idiomatic extensions of "dud" appear in modern expressions of underperformance, often amplified on 21st-century social media platforms where users share relatable failures. For example, calling an event or attempt a "complete dud" conveys total ineffectiveness, as seen in online discussions of lackluster gatherings or failed plans, maintaining the term's relevance in digital vernacular.^[34] Such phrases, rooted in the 20th-century shift toward describing non-explosive failures, continue to capture the essence of dashed hopes in informal settings.^[35]

Cultural and Linguistic Impact

Notable Examples in Literature and History

During the London Blitz from September 1940 to May 1941, thousands of German bombs dropped on the city failed to explode, earning the term "duds" among civilians and military personnel. These unexploded ordnance posed ongoing dangers, as they could detonate at any time due to damage or disturbance, leading to frequent evacuations of residential and commercial areas. For instance, on September 11, 1940, a 550-pound high-explosive bomb landed unexploded on Regent Street, prompting the evacuation of nearby buildings while bomb disposal experts from the Royal Engineers defused it over several tense hours.^[36] Overall, an estimated 10% of the more than 18,000 tons of bombs targeting London were duds, complicating recovery efforts and contributing to the psychological strain on the population.^[37] In the Cold War period, "dud" described nuclear weapons or tests that failed to achieve expected yields, often termed "fizzles" in technical parlance—a partial detonation dispersing radioactive material without full explosive power. The U.S. Department of Defense defined a nuclear dud as a weapon that fails to explode its nuclear component upon targeting, a risk simulated in subcritical tests to assess aging stockpiles without violating treaties. A notable example was the Soviet Union's 1961 Tsar Bomba test, the largest-ever nuclear detonation at 50 megatons, where designers intentionally scaled it down from a planned 100 megatons to reduce fallout, though it still demonstrated the era's escalating arms race tensions.^[38]^[39] In the slang sense of a failure or worthless item, "dud" shares synonyms such as "flop," which emerged in 1893 as a figurative noun for a dismal collapse, particularly in theatrical contexts where a performance falls flat.^[40] Similarly, "lemon" has denoted a disappointing or substandard product since 1909 in American English, originally via criminal slang for something undesirable before becoming associated with defective automobiles in the early 20th century.^[41] Another close synonym is "turkey," attested from 1927 in show business jargon for an inferior production or flop, likely alluding to the turkey's reputation for dim-wittedness.^[42] Antonyms to "dud" emphasize success, such as "hit," which by 1811 referred to a successful play, song, or endeavor in slang, deriving from the earlier verbal sense of striking the mark accurately around 1400.^[43] An ironic contrast appears in "bomb," which since 1963 has meant a spectacular failure in performance or effort, inverting the explosive imagery of a dud shell that fails to detonate.^[44] Compound terms involving "dud" are uncommon but include the rare feminine form "dudette," a slang adaptation appearing by the 1880s to denote a female counterpart in contexts of fashion or Western settings, later revived in casual address during the late 20th century.^[45] Additionally, "dud ranch" functions as a pun on "dude ranch," humorously implying a failed or unprofitable venture rather than a tourist-oriented cattle operation originating in the late 19th century.^[46]

References

[1]
Definition of DUD
### Summary of "Dud" Definition (Merriam-Webster)
[2]
dud - American Heritage Dictionary Entry
1. A bomb, shell, or explosive round that fails to detonate. 2. Informal One that is disappointingly ineffective or unsuccessful. 3. duds Informal.
[3]
DUD | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
something that has no value or that does not work: Are there any more batteries? This one's a dud. He's made eleven movies in the last 20 years and not one has ...
[4]
dud, n.¹ meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary
There are nine meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun dud, three of which are labelled obsolete. See 'Meaning & use' for definitions, usage, and quotation ...Missing: definition | Show results with:definition
[5]
Dud - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
Originating in 1825 from "duds," meaning "person in ragged clothing," the term evolved to signify "counterfeit thing," "useless person," and WWI "shell that ...
[6]
Duds - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
Originating c. 1300 from an uncertain Old English word, "dudde" means cloak or mantle, later extending to ragged clothes and related terms for rags and ...
[7]
DUD Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com
noun Informal. a device, person, or enterprise that proves to be a failure. Synonyms: flop, bomb, fizzle, debacle, fiasco
[8]
dudde - Middle English Compendium - University of Michigan
1. A cloak or mantle (?made of coarse, woolen cloth); also, a kind of cloth. Show 8 Quotations Hide 8 QuotationsMissing: slang clothing
[9]
The Slang Dictionary, by John Camden Hotten - Project Gutenberg
“Dudes” was Cant for clothes; we now say “duds.” “Flag” is still a fourpenny-piece; and “fylche” means to rob. “Ken” is a house, and “lick” means to thrash; “ ...
[10]
Dictionary of Americanisms, by John Russell Bartlett (1848)
”—Grose, Slang Dictionary. DUDS. (Gaelic, dud.) Rags; old clothes. A common word,. ----- p. 125. which is used in the same sense in various parts of England ...
[11]
https://archive.org/details/scottishproverbs00hen/page/68/mode/2up
[12]
dud noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes
dud · [countable] (informal) a thing that has no use, especially because it does not work correctly. Two of the fireworks in the box were duds. Definitions on ...
[13]
dud adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes
that has no use; that does not work correctly. a dud battery. Oxford Collocations DictionaryDud is used with these nouns: cheque. See full entry.
[14]
dud, n.² - Green's Dictionary of Slang
dud n. · 1. of a person, a failure, an incompetent, a weakling, a bore. 1825. 185019001950. 2000. 1825, [UK], Jamieson Etym. · 2. anything that lit. or fig. 'does ...
[15]
A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words, by A London ...
For all your duds are bing'd awast;. The bien cove hath the loure. But I ... Charles Dickens' famous periodical. Nearly ready, beautifully printed ...
[16]
Why Is a Cheque Called a Kite in Cockney Rhyming Slang?
... dud cheque. This originated in the 1800s from metaphor-based slang used in the London Stock Exchange. According to a source from 1870, a kite is described ...
[17]
dud, adj. - Green's Dictionary of Slang
1897, [UK], Mirror of Life 3 Mar. 3/1: [T]hese 'dud' (counterfeit) notes are so apparently genuine that their baseness was only discovered by accident.
[18]
Chapter XXIV. | The Writings of Mark Twain (beta)
The king's duds was all black, and he did look real swell and starchy. I never knowed how clothes could change a body before.Aemendation Why, before, he looked ...
[19]
Dudes, dandies, swells, and mashers - OUP Blog
Apr 11, 2012 · Dud has a long history, and it was never pronounced with the vowel of dude; dud “failure; loser” is a different word. How then did the ...
[20]
Are your duds a dud? - The Grammarphobia Blog
Dec 16, 2015 · In the early 1500s, the English plural “duds” also came to mean ragged clothing, according to the dictionary, and in the early 1900s the ...
[21]
Explosives Analysis: Common Terms - Forensic Science Simplified
Dud - An explosive device which has undergone a complete arming and firing cycle but has failed to explode. It should be noted that this is a very dangerous ...
[22]
[PDF] Glossary of EOD Terminology
dud-fired – A fuze is dud–fired when all of the safety devices and features incorporated in the fuze have been eliminated or are not functioning, and the ...
[23]
These Nazi bombs are more dangerous now than ever before - BBC
Sep 23, 2015 · In August, construction workers in east London unearthed a terrifying relic from World War II: an unexploded 500lb (227kg) German bomb with the ...Missing: rates | Show results with:rates
[24]
WWII Bombs and Shells Still Major Hazard: French Environmental ...
Jun 2, 2014 · Unexploded bombs and shells from World War II remain a major hazard in western France that has been poorly investigated, the French environmental group Robin ...
[25]
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
The official website of Special Operations Recruiting Battalion SORB. Our teams are responsible for the location, identification, render safe, and disposal ...
[26]
Military Munitions/Unexploded Ordnance | US EPA
This is the Military Munitions/Unexploded Ordnance section of the Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office's Web site.
[27]
Safety Tips | Phantom Fireworks
Never attempt to re-light, alter or fix any “dud” firework item. If a fireworks item fails to function when ignited, let it stand for at least 5 minutes, then ...
[28]
[PDF] Public Input No. 32-NFPA 1123-2023 [ Global Input ]
Nov 21, 2023 · 1 After a fireworks display, all excess fireworks or pyrotechnic articles, devices that are damaged or failed to fire, or duds should be ...
[29]
Full text of "Variety (July 1930)" - Internet Archive
... dud. Idea Is a romantic travesty but it Isn't carried out with any degree of laugh resource. Sort of crudely done "Yankee in King Ar- thur's Court ...
[30]
HOLLYWOOD BATTLES KILLER BUDGETS - The New York Times
May 31, 1987 · '' But it apparently also has its first disaster: Columbia Pictures' ''Ishtar ... box office dud. And the ripples from granting ...
[31]
30 Disastrous Album Flops From Hitherto Successful Acts - NME
Jul 11, 2014 · 30 Disastrous Album Flops From Hitherto Successful Acts · 1. Johnny Borrell – 'Borrell 1' · 2. No Doubt – 'Push And Shove' · 3. The View – 'Which ...
[32]
How I judged the Booker and lived to tell the tale - The Guardian
Oct 18, 2008 · We are a sub-standard panel of self-serving nitwits who have chosen a dud novel from a duff shortlist from a poor longlist in a dying medium ...
[33]
The Best Moving Pictures of 1922-1923
... film producers out oftheir sleek skins. —has proved to be a dud. Consequently, the talk about a film tariff, to protect our most infantile industry, has.
[34]
DUD - Definition & Meaning - Reverso English Dictionary
1. failure Informal US event that fails or disappoints Informal US. The party was a dud with no guests showing up. · 2. fashion Informal item of clothing that is ...
[35]
Dud - Idioms by The Free Dictionary
1. Something that does not work as intended, is ineffectual, or is defective. This car I bought yesterday is a complete dud. It's engine won't even start!Missing: everyday | Show results with:everyday
[36]
A dictionary of UK English slang | Words beginning with 'D'.
dud, Noun. An ineffectual or broken thing. E.g."Can I borrow another pen, that last one you gave me was a dud." {Informal} Adj. Failing, faulty or of no value.
[37]
10 Incredible Stories Of Bravery During The Blitz
The Prime Minister Winston Churchill visits bombed out buildings in the East End of London on 8 September 1940. A German mine fell on a house in Shoreditch, ...Missing: dud rates
[38]
How much of a threat are unexploded bombs? - BBC News
Aug 11, 2015 · The vast majority of unearthed devices are bombs dropped on Britain during World War Two, although old shells have been found close to former ...
[39]
https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dtra/20-031.pdf
[40]
[PDF] FOIA Case No.: 20-031 - The Black Vault
Mar 9, 2022 · NUCLEAR DUD. A nuclear weapon which, when launched at or emplaced on a target, fails to provide any explosion of that part of the weapon ...<|separator|>
[41]
https://www.etymonline.com/word/lemon
[42]
Flop - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
Originating c.1600 as a variant of "flap," flop means to flap, fall heavily, collapse, or fail; noun form (1823) denotes the act or sound of flopping.
[43]
Lemon - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
"Lemon" originates from Old French limon (12c.), from Arabic laimun and Persian limun, meaning a pale yellow citrus fruit; also slang (1909) for a worthless ...
[44]
Turkey - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
The meaning "inferior show, failure," is attested from 1927 in show business slang (Vanity Fair), probably from the bird's reputation for stupidity. The ...
[45]
Hit - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
Originating from late Old English and Old Norse, "hit" means to meet or strike. It evolved from "come upon" to "strike" and later "succeed" or "rebuke."Missing: success | Show results with:success
[46]
Bomb - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
The slang meaning "fail" is attested from 1963; that of "move or travel quickly" is from 1966. Related: Bombed; bombing. Slang bombed "drunk" is attested by ...Bomb(n.) · Bomb(v.) · Entries Linking To Bomb
[47]
dudette, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary
The earliest known use of the noun dudette is in the 1880s. OED's earliest evidence for dudette is from 1883, in Cambridge City (Indiana) Tribune. dudette is ...Missing: slang | Show results with:slang
[48]
Dude - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
1883, "fastidious man," New York City slang of unknown origin; recent research suggests it is a shortening of Yankee Doodle.

Dud