Where is the honey hole? Slang or Colloquial Expressions. But as Cohan's childhood attests, there was nothing imaginary about Podunk. Today, the phrases have caught on with many individuals and spread throughout many states and towns all across America. Podunk. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Podunk. I still don't understand how anything can be profane or bad language. podunk 1. adjective Completely insignificant, out-of-the-way, and unsophisticated or uninteresting. I could say that right in front of my family, friends and colleagues. What are the differences between them? rev2023.4.21.43403. [1][2][3] Podunk was first defined in an American national dictionary in 1934, as an imaginary small town considered typical of placid dullness and lack of contact with the progress of the world.[4]. "OH DEAR GOD! These represented "Podunk" as a real place but one insignificant and out of the way. And, he adds, there are all kinds of words for places, both negative and positive, that get detached from their original meaning: Shangri-La, for instance, or Xanadu: "Words have interesting histories. Just to be safe, we can easily avoid the first two words. However generally speaking I think there's enough difference between these to straightforwardly state some differences. This suggests that vulgar has a fairly narrow meaning related to a sort of ignorant crudeness, while offensive is an extremely broad concept that may apply to practically anything toward which one feels any resentment or repugnance. thank you, you show me the good way! Therefore "derogatory" may be badmouthing or depreciating a person or group, but "offensive" may be a breach against societal or human sensibilities. because the masses of people were considered crude and boarish as opposed to the elite/nobility/aristocratic/educated/privileged/wealthy. Let's start using the proper terms, like Inuit. Context is key though. Last month, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream announced it was changing the name and branding of its Eskimo Pie dessert because they "recognize the term is derogatory.". ", Goddard said that story can be told of many Native American place names in southern New England, New Jersey, all the way down into Virginia. Why is it shorter than a normal address? "Podunk" might be nothing more than an imaginary place before long. For its part, derogatory seems to refer to a particular type of unpleasant conductthat which denigrates or belittles. but to tyrants I will give no quarter, Vulgar suggests something that is offensive to good taste or decency, frequently with the added implication of boorishness or ill breeding [examples omitted], derogatory, depreciatory, depreciative, disparaging, slighting, pejorative mean designed or tending to belittle. "You have to consider how someone else feels when you use these terms," he said. Slang A small isolated town, region, or place that is regarded as unimportant. If Podunk happened to be a junction with a branch line, the railroad might set out a sleeper at Podunk during the day. Is it derogatory or offensive to call a detective a dick? Plus, the broadcasting authority Ofcom has been exploring 'latest attitudes' to offensive language? By 1934, Webster's defined it as "an imaginary small towntypical of placid dullness.". The Romani typically traveled a lot and made their money by selling goods. The terms include "peanut gallery," "plantation shutters" and "open the kimono." By Olivia Eubanks. As this answer is long enough, I'll just try to illustrate an obvious difference with an example. When derogatory first began to be used in English it had the meaning detracting from the character or standing of something. It comes from the verb derogate, which can be traced to the Latin word derogare (to detract or to annul (a law)). "Somebody had seen this place name out the window of their bus or someplace where they spent their summers or something and it just became a funny word to them. Some of these outdated terms should be left in the past, or revised at the very least. Send us feedback about these examples. manage your account online and more! The terms include "peanut gallery," "plantation shutters" and "open the kimono.". Howdy Doody, Bob Smith as Buffalo Bob Smith entertains the "Peanut Gallery" on an episode of "Howdy Doody.". For example, former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton netted backlash in 2016 for using the phrase in an interview with CNN when she said, "I have a lot of experience dealing with men who sometimes get off the reservation in the way they behave and how they speak." Though steeped in controversy, some think the first part of this phrase relates to anti-Semitic demonstrations that started in Germany in the 19th century. Of Hillbillies or Backwoods folk. hide caption. Learn a new word every day. The aroma of wine made from Concord grapes is often described as "foxy," a wine term as, In Powell's memoir, Lemann points out, terms like "expert" and "academic" are clearly, Unfortunately, the codes were badly explained and ham-handedly enforced. Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Random House, Inc. 2023. any small and insignificant or inaccessible town or village: After a year in the big city, I was ready to move back to Podunk. It excited a two-line paragraph there. Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox! Where do yokels, bumpkins, and hayseeds come from? "We feel it is important to make this change in response to the findings of our recent engagement and research. A little Podunk goes a long way for a rocker like me. "This shows how in our language the simplified notions of other cultures get wrapped up in expressions we use," John Kelly, senior research editor at Dictionary.com, explained. And you wouldn't know (from the sentence itself) whether he spent his whole time making rude jokes inappropriately (vulgar), making hateful comments against Mexicans (being derogatory), or was just talking in a way that the others found offensive (being offensive). Though most people use the word "cretin" to refer to someone that is "insensitive" or "stupid," Merriam-Webster writes that the word used to refer to those who lives in the French-Swiss Alps, and were affected with hypothyroidism. podunk 1. adjective Completely insignificant, out-of-the-way, and unsophisticated or uninteresting. Another difference I can see is that people can take offence to things that aren't directed at them, but to things that may just be a breach of civility or custom. Glenn Beck even defended him, citing the first lady's love of arugula. Why Is It Still OK To 'Trash' Poor White People? Every hour is a magical combination of rustic beauty and historic landmarks and fascinating people. The fact that this is a Native American name to begin with is irrelevant. Thank you. Great question. That's because the definition of these words and phrases have often been lost over time, experts said. But vulgar points more to a lack of refinement or good taste while obscene suggests a preoccupation with the pornographic: [examples omitted]. Take a ride to Podunk and you can see High Rocks from the intersection of Flagg Road and Podunk Road. rural and backward. ", Guy 1: "Neighboring towns keep the word alive. Guess what. Podunk, Michigan, the south eastern portion of the Village of Manchester, Michigan centered on the current village offices, formal before consolidation with the western portion "Manchester" changed in attempts to improve community image, the concurrent USPS designation of the Village of Manchester, Michigan zip code 48158. The word plantation appeared in English in the 1400s originally meaning "plant," according to Kelly. Which one to choose? ", the term didn't originate as a racist phrase. Disparaging; belittling: a derogatory comment. Sorry if this is perceived wrong. English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. If you don't get that, a little selfrefection is in order." Derogatory may be used of one's own actions or activity that tends to detract from his reputation or to lower him in the estimation of others [examples omitted] More often the term is applied to expressions or modes of expression (as . The little burg in Eastern Idaho from where I hail could technically be called a Podunk town -- and . He hadn't known that Podunk was an Algonquian word before we got in touch, but he said he didn't think there was anything particularly sinister about its use. When a friendly MALE proceeds to forcfully stimulate your prostate with an OPEN alcoholic beverage bottle. Similarly, people might not realize that the term "uppity," nowadays used generally to refer to a stuck-up or arrogant person, was commonly used to describe Black people that "didn't know their socioeconomic place.". You, my friend, are in Podunk. ", Wolvengrey seemed to have a similar take. Linguists believe the word came from the French word "esquimaux," referring to one who nets snowshoes. Tending to detract or diminish. American English Ditionary, adj tending or intended to detract, disparage, or belittle; Can I use my Coinbase address to receive bitcoin? Quick explanatory comma: Algonquian languages are a family of indigenous languages spoken from New England to Saskatchewan to the Great Plains. Short story about swapping bodies as a job; the person who hires the main character misuses his body. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. Podunk, Michigan is just an abandoned dance hall, while Podunk, New York is just eight or nine houses. The meanings of "derogatory" imply "to belittle", "to disparage", or to "derogate" (to take away, detract, discredit. This was a term that Europeans used for a huge group of indigenous people living in the Arctic regions. Like to where you see this ofcom thing and 'white nigga' being allowable. It's a depressing place: bleak, empty, isolated. The proverbial podunk town is perfectly named, so perfectly that if Podunk didn't exist, we would be forced to invent it. No, 'Snowflake' as a Slang Term Did Not Derogatory. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derogatory. Within a few years, no less than Mark Twain was name-checking Podunk in his work. The result looks like the.. As to this last point, it's interesting that the Collins Dictionary definition mentioned specifically "intentionally offensive." *.. 1. This phrase started appearing in London newspapers around 1898. Modern vernacular dropped the racial slur, leaving a faux-scientific diagnosis for the tired feeling you get after eating way too much food. However, in the segregated South, seats in the back or upper balcony levels were mostly reserved for Black people, according to author Stuart Berg Flexner, an expert on the origins of American phrases. Perhaps context is key with it then? The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? So I think the main distinction is that "offensive" is something that offends, and being derogatory and vulgar are things that could offend. I don't think anybody knows that," he said. n. Slang A small isolated town, region, or place that is regarded as unimportant. European colonizers used the term broadly, lumping all Native Americans in that region into one ethnic group. As you might expect from their name, none of America's various Podunks are exactly booming. The "peanut gallery" was the cheapest section of seats, usually occupied by people with limited means. The village of Podunk looks down on the neighboring town of Hardscrabble. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.. Podunks - definition of Podunks by The Free Dictionary . For When 'Lowdown Crook' Isn't Specific Enough. Where is Podunk Oklahoma? The town of Poughkeepsie and city has now become less rural and more developed. Or maybe it will continue to be that place where you pray you don't run out of gas. An area of northwestern Rhode Island 3 miles (4.8km) WNW of Pascoag, An alternative spelling; "Podonque" is found as a name on a road leading into a settlement area (intersection of County roads 23 and 243) which is still sparsely populated, believed to having been established in the 1800s as: Podonque, Town of. Capitalized in this use. In reality, the "peanut gallery" names a section in theaters, usually the cheapest and worst, where many Black people sat during the era of Vaudeville. "Gyp" or "gip" most likely evolved as a shortened version of "gypsy" more correctly known as the Romani, an ethnic group now mostly in Europe and America. "Those comments he made on the radio about Chinese people are really The word podunk is of Algonquian origin.It denoted both the Podunk people and marshy locations, particularly the people's winter village site on the border of present-day East Hartford and South Windsor, Connecticut. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for Podunk. Our most popular newsletter for destination inspiration, travel tips, trip itineraries, and everything else you need to be an expert traveler in this beautiful world, Women Who Travel Podcast: The Weird and Wonderful World of Road Tripping, Where to Eat, Stay, and Play in Newport, Rhode Island, The Most Beautiful Places in Portugal, From Douro Valley Vineyards to the Islets of the Azores, These Small Towns in France Are Straight Out of a Storybook. a phrase for a small or rural town that was popularized by the movie "The French Connection" in 1971, starring Gene Hackman. The earliest citation in the Dictionary of American Regional English is from Samuel Griswold Goodrich's 1840 book The Politician of Podunk: Solomon Waxtend was a shoemaker of Podunk, a small village of New York some forty years ago. My hunch is that a Podunk sleeper is not a sleeper at all but an accomodation car of marginal comfort, so the word "sleeper" was sarcasm due to the lack of good sleep one was likely to get in it. (little sense as far as I can see). That is the context in which I understand the word - a small place, significant only to those who live there. So does logging slang, with the difference that logging slang also involves a lot of blue language. The 1940s and 1950s-era children's program "Howdy Doody" used the term to refer to the groups of kids who participated in its audience. "Paddy" originated in the late 1700s as a shortened form of "Patrick," and then later a pejorative term for any Irishman. Take for example: "I found his behaviour toward his mother to be really offensive." vulgar, coarse, crude, gross, obscene These words are comparable in that they are all used when one wishes to describe the character, speech, or actions of people who have in some way offended one's sensibilities or moral standards. Experts say this phrase, frequently used during the 19th and 20th centuries in American politics, refers to Native Americans who were forced into treaties that limited their mobility by placing them on reservations, so off the reservation would suggest they were placing themselves outside their allowed their legal, or social, parameters. NPR reports that during slavery in the US, masters in the North often sold their misbehaving slaves, sending them down the Mississippi River to plantations in Mississippi, where conditions were much harsher. [After Podunk, name of two New England towns, of southern New England Algonquian origin .] "Wagon" naturally refers to a vehicle. However, in modern politics there has been recognition that term is racially offensive. The people there are probably a little creepy. To discredit or denigrate (derogatory) someone is likely to be offensive, but so is not saying "thank you", and it's not derogatory, it's simply offensive for another reason. I think this is the answer that's quite good. Derogatory quickly took on the additional meaning disdainful, disparaging, as may be seen in the words frequent use in derogatory comment. I have been guilty, in several posts on this forum, of using the fictional Podunk and Northern as a synonym for a minor short line of total insignificance. In 1981, someone took The New York Times to task for publishing a Podunk-bashing cartoon. Explore the world's oddities every week with Ken Jennings, and check out his book Maphead for more geography trivia. Offensive is the mildest word in this list. Post the Definition of Podunk to Facebook, Share the Definition of Podunk on Twitter. It comes from the Latin: vulgus, the common people American Heritage Dictionary. To say these phrases and words are "just expressions" or to say the intent of using the word is "not meant to be racist" is not good enough, Barg explained. Want to improve this question? "but the articles cemented Podunk in the American imagination as the go-to name for a rural hicksville. One of the most famous people to refer to Podunk was Mark Twain, who in 1869 wrote that a certain fact was known even "in Podunk, wherever that may be. 2. mod. Maybe someday we'll use the word to refer to a center of culture or a lush New England getaway. If it's not directly racist, it's classist and rude at the very least. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. This is a po'dunk town. Eskimo Pie packaging in the style of the 1920's was released for the product's 75th anniversary in 1997. It is located six miles west of Arnett, OK, at the intersection of U.S. 60 and U.S. 283. But, there are distinctions among the words in many/most cases, I hope I've shown some. For example, I believe the usage of "white nigga" isn't offensive since there are major claims radio broadcasters don't censor/filter it. Urban Dictionary: Po-dunk Po-dunk Adj. But how did "Podunk" come to stand in for any tiny, forgotten whistle-stop of a town? Podunk is not necessarily derogatory; there is an implication of insignificance but then 99.9% of all the inhabited communities in the U. S. of A. fill that bill. ", Guy 2: "Well Poughquag isn't that small, but it sure does have a lot of cows, so I guess we can call it podunk. as well as other partner offers and accept our, Anwar Hussein / Contributor / Getty Images, Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images, "Land And Sea Tales For Scouts And Guides. As language evolves, we sometimes forget the offensive origins of certain words and phrases. So, why is "fuck" worse than "penis" for example? Is there a generic term for these trajectories? Delivered to your inbox! But with a lot of others, he says, "We don't really have any hope of figuring them out. This 19th-century slang was used historically to reference Irish immigrants who upon being arrested were put in a police van, called a paddy wagon. Other etymological research suggests it could mean "snowshoe-netter" too. It is now known as East Brookfield, MA. ", Wolvengrey says there are obviously words that "reflect a racist attitude towards indigenous people" but Podunk doesn't seem to be one of them. To save this word, you'll need to log in. "We need to dig deeper and understand where the phrases and words we use come from because if we don't we are being complicit in perpetuating the racist systems that are embedded in our language.". The Atlantic reports that during Segregation racist southerners used "uppity" to describe Black people "who didn't know their place," socioeconomically speaking. Many common terms and phrases are actually rooted in racist, sexist, or generally distasteful language. "This simply seems to have attached a particular name and again, unless someone from a place named Podunk is particularly offended by it, it doesn't sound like it was done with any malicious intent towards any particular people. australia's richest 250; degrassi eli and imogen; donna taylor dermot desmond; wglc closings and cancellations; baby chick walking in circles; mid century modern furniture los angeles; with humane men I will plead; So, "vulgar" and its derivatives all kind of mean the same, right? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Synonyms (1984) puts the three words in three separate clusters of related terms, suggesting that the three are not especially similar in meaning. Apparently the term derived from a real locale somewhere in New York State. A website for the property says, "Oak Alley as a sugar plantation was built by and relied on enslaved men, women and children.". Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964). In the same vein, after decades of debate and court cases over its name and logo, the Washington Redskins have decided to change their name, which was an offensive term in reference to Native Americans. It is quite striking that Hayakawa and Merriam-Webster agree on four of the five members of the vulgar group that each identifies, but on none of the closest relatives to offensive. Nglish: Translation of derogatory for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of derogatory for Arabic Speakers. This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 14:41. A small isolated town, region, or place that is regarded as unimportant. When letters make sounds that aren't associated w One goose, two geese. These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'derogatory.' Apparently, Wiktionary added 'sockpuppet' to the derogatory category. Or maybe just say you're stuffed. Both derogatory, yet not vulgar or "offensive". "There is racism embedded throughout our language system just like every other system," said Jeffrey Barg, a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist known as The Angry Grammarian, told ABC News. Last edited on Oct 07 2016. (n.) "remote and wild place," 1910s, from Tagalog bundok "mountain." A word adopted by occupying American soldiers in the Philippines for "remote and wild place." It was reinforced or re-adopted during World War II. "And this book was considered authoritative. By being spread through word of mouth, many people lost the true meaning of podunk and did not even realize it was originally used and first created for Poughkeepsie. It's awesome to see how things that would seem gross or weird to guys in the dorm seem perfectly okay to them. Today, "gyp" has become synonymous with cheating someone. The community, bounded by Wallisville Road, the Union Pacific Railroad, and the Port Terminal Railroad Association, was first settled in the 1890s and platted in 1911 and 1913. Their one-horse, backwater burg may be a quintessential American everytown, but over the centuries it's been given a name, and that name is "Podunk." It's very hard for me to explain. Countless times in the movie, they used slang phrases such as "podunk" or "pough town" to describe the area. Common areas/landmarks in Podunk: Podunk Cemetary, High Rocks, Lake Lashaway, Devil's Kitchen, Hayden Lodge, Union Chapel. It was not until the 1600's that the word was defined as estates where the enslaved labored in bondage and were forced to grow such crops as cotton and tobacco. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! The origin of America's favorite name for hicksville. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost. intentionally offensive Collins English Dictionary. A common implication of Podunk is that it's a place so dreary and remote that it's not even worth situating on a map. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Negro descent; a black person. (Note that all of the real locations for Podunk in that wiki are, from my southwestern vantage point, 'way north to start with.) Small, but menacing-looking rodents scurry across the road. Podunk is a derogatory slang term for a very rural and unimportant community. The cartoon, Francis H. Schaefer Jr. wrote, "is a slur to the real Podunk. The terms podunk and Podunk Hollow in American English denote or describe an insignificant, out-of-the-way, or even completely fictitious town. July 2, 2022 . According to Mic, it stems from a longer (and incredibly offensive) version n----ritis. Please assume good faith. @SteveWoods I wouldn't call them derivatives. There are a bunch of words in English that have Algonquian roots: skunk, moose, caribou. Don't believe any of it. Say 'Mmhmm'. I don't want a job in Podunk. Through various languages, the term morphed into "bugger. The word podunk is of Algonquian origin. Podunk \POH-dunk\ noun. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! Capitalized in this use. In 2011, Rush Limbaugh pontificated that a NASCAR audience booed Michelle Obama because she exhibited "uppity-ism." I believe a listener or reader of these would take the "derogatory" sentence to mean it's offensive to Chinese people", whereas the "offensive" sentence may be taken to mean it's both offensive to Chinese people, but in addition to that, may be seen as offensive on a more general scale; that is, offensive to people at large because racial intolerance is offensive to everyone. Is this the correct usage of a vulgar and offensive phrase? Difference between "vulgar", "offensive" and "derogatory" [closed], Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition, New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, That which is vulgar, obscene, or profane (title reflects contents). First of all, if you look up "derogatory" in dictionaries you'll get something like the following: adj. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! It sounds like there's hope for Podunk. Quick explanatory comma: Algonquian languages are a family of indigenous languages spoken from New England to Saskatchewan to the Great Plains. Ghetto in a sense that it's utterly shitty in every way. What were the most popular text editors for MS-DOS in the 1980s? Dictionary Entries Near Podunk dunk (pdngk) n. Slang A small isolated town, region, or place that is regarded as unimportant. The city was incorporated on may 3, 1999. It denoted both the Podunk people and marshy locations, particularly the people's winter village site on the border of present-day East Hartford and South Windsor, Connecticut. In 1846, an anonymous columnist for the Daily National Pilot of Buffalo, New York wrote a series of humorous. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Until, one day, things change: The scenery turns gray; the people lose their charm. Kimonos were also worn by geishas -- highly trained hostesses who throughout history have been inaccurately depicted as concubines in various films and books. Podunk, Vermont is fewer than fifty people, their farm animals, and a boarded-up schoolhouse. To save this word, you'll need to log in. It is very confusing why the language in their statistics they've chosen is very selective. When a gnoll vampire assumes its hyena form, do its HP change? "Hooray" conveys just as much merriment as the full version and comes from hurrah, a version of huzzah, a "sailor's shout of exaltation.". 2023 Cond Nast. It's not perfect, the English language but it helps with expression and conveying a message IMHO. That writer may have introduced America to the concept of Podunk as an insignificant Anywhere, U.S.A., town, but the place isn't just imaginary; towns with that name have actually existed in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Iowa (and probably elsewhere) over the years. In English it's derogatory due to the history ("dirty Polack", "stupid Polack") so Pole is more appropriate. Podunk is used specifically to transmit that sense, and because hamlet does not convey that sense, I didn't mention hamlet (or similar terms). Synonyms for DEROGATORY: insulting, slighting, pejorative, demeaning, malicious, disparaging, uncomplimentary, degrading; Antonyms of DEROGATORY: laudatory . It's 90 miles to the nearest motel. Still others, such as "peanut gallery" and "fuzzy wuzzy," remain in wide use despite their racially questionable origins. Podunk is an Algonquian word. He says the standard source for these definitions is a man named William Bright, a linguist who in 2004 wrote a book called Native American Placenames of the United States. A kimono is associated with formal attire in Japanese culture, over time this 1970s-era slang has been misinterpreted from myths that certain Japanese warriors would open their robes to show someone that they were not hiding their weapons. In college writing, "little kids" are "children;" "totally cool . Maybe Webster's was right. Vulgar and obscene are similar in their suggestion of indelicacy or indecency. said Janice Agrios, chairwoman of the board of directors. "), But according to Goddard, when it comes to Native American place names in the Eastern United States, a lot of what we think we know is actually misinformation.
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