Date: Sat, 5 Feb 1994 23:50:26 -0600

From: Charles F Juengling-2 juen0001[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]GOLD.TC.UMN.EDU

Subject: Re: Sluff & Nimrod



On Sat, 5 Feb 1994, Donald M. Lance wrote:



Jan Brunvand at U of Utah (Salt Lake City) tells me that his students are

currently using 'nimrod' as a synonym for nerd, wuss, dork, etc. They

didn't know the word has biblical connections or might have other meanings.

I'm not particularly collecting data on this item, but others might be (e.g.,

Connie Eble) and would want to know of its use elsewhere.



I remember using the word 'nimrod' back in the mid/late '70's for exactly that

meaning. We also had another word-- polnerd. It must have been the first

half of 'Polack' + nerd (that was at the time of all the "Polack" jokes.)

I think the idea was that if you were a 'polnerd', you were twice as

stupid as being just a 'nerd'. Does anyone else know this word?

BTW, where does the word 'nerd' come from. Everyone knows it from Happy

Days; did it originate there?





Jan also tells me that in the public schools kids "sluff" school -- none of

that hooky stuff. And the school bulletins use this term in discussing

school policy. Known elsewhere? Widespread? (I don't keep

up with the modern world and don't know these modren terms.)



When I was in school (in Oregon in the late '70's), the OTHER

kids 'skipped' school. We did have the word 'sluff-off', but that meant

something more like 'to be lazy, not do one's homework, or generally not

try very hard' or 'to not do something.'

"Did you do your homework?"

"No, I sluffed it off."







Brunvand is the urban legend specialist. Choking Doberman etc. DMLance