Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 23:45:46 -0500
From: Jesse T Sheidlower jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]PANIX.COM
Subject: Re: Bubblehead
I'll support Laurie Bowman's recollection of "bubblehead" = "airhead".
Memory is one of the advantages (or disadvantages) of long experience: the
term arose in the early 60s (when I first experienced it at UT-Austin, though
it may have started earlier while I was out out the country) for the young
college females, mostly sorority types still following the genderized pursuit
of an MRS. degree.....
The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang cites
_bubblehead_ from 1952 on.
Actually, sorry, that's not quite right. _Bubble-headed_ from 1952
on, _bubblehead_ from 1959; we combine them in the same entry.
Jesse Sheidlower
Random House Reference
jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]panix.com