dick·head (d
k
h
d
)
n. Vulgar Slang
An inept, foolish, or contemptible person.
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Though the Collegiate gives the first appearance of “dickhead” as 1964, the OED only provides a 1969 quotation. I don’t need to go to the mat on this one, however, since both dates are well within our defined period. Interesting about dickhead, however, is that there were a few “dick-type” words that preceded it, none of which caught on. In James Halliwell’s 19th century Dictionary of provincial phrases, He gives us two “dick” words: (1) Dickass, which is defined as “jackass”; and (2) Dick-a-tuesday, the “ignis fatuus.” The former never caught on, though jackass certainly did, and seems to be alive and well as I write. The ignis fatuus is a sort of “will-o’-the-wisp,” or an evanescent light which appears in swamps. Thus a “Dick-a-tuesday” (why Tuesday?) would be a deceptive person. But it wasn’t until 1969, according to the OED that we have the following: “Tito screamed, ‘I tell her you got it, dick-head.” Here there is no doubt that it means a “stupid person.” So, it was an established usage just before I entered college. I think that dickhead, along with douche-bag, was probably one of the more endearing greetings with which the fraternity brothers welcomed each other each day.
Tags: English, Humor, information, Knowledge, language
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