How did dude become a greeting between friends?.................................
The word dude originated as a Victorian slang word for a man who was effeminate. It's a variation of dud or duds, from the Arabic word for cloak (dudde), and was a reference to fancy or foppish clothes. When vain, fashion-conscious city slickers wanted a taste of the West, they went to a Dude ranch. Dude was kept alive be California surfers and took on its current fellowship meaning from a generation weaned on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Feb. 16/10 Big Book of Answers #2
Why are demin pants called "jeans"?..................................................
In
the 1850s, when Levi Strauss ran out of tent canvas for the pants he
was selling to California gold miners, he imported a tough material
from Nimes in France called serge de Nim. Americanized, de Nim became denim. The word jeans is
from the French word for Genoa, where the tough cloth was invented.
Jeans became popular with teenagers after James Dean wore them in the
movie Rebel Without a Cause.
Jan 20/10 Big Book of Answers #2
Was Rudolph the only name of the red-nosed reindeer?...........................................................
In
1939, when Robert May, a copywriter for Montgomery Ward, wrote a
promotional Christmas poem for the Chicago department store, its
principal character was "Rollo" the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but the
corporate executives didn't like that name, nor did they approve of
May's second suggestion "Reginald." It was May's four-year-old
daughter who came up with "Rudolph," and the title for a Christmas
classic.
Dec 4/09 Big Book of answers #2
