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Bloke is a slang term for a common man in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The earliest known usage is from the early 19th century, when it was recorded as a London slang term. [1] The word's origin is unknown, and though many theories exist regarding its etymology, none are considered conclusive.
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The word "man" is still used in its generic meaning in literary English. The verb to man (i.e. "to furnish [a fortress or a ship] with a company of men") dates to early Middle English. The word has been applied generally as a suffix in modern combinations like "fireman", "policeman", and "mailman".
In the popular press of the 1880s and 1890s, "dude" was a new word for "dandy"—an "extremely well-dressed male", a man who assigned particular importance to his appearance. The café society and Bright Young Things of the late 1800s and early 1900s were populated with dudes. Young men of leisure vied to display their wardrobes.
Polari, a jargon that began in European ports and evolved into a shorthand used in gay subcultures, influences much of today's slang in words like "zhuzh," "drag," "camp" and "femme."
Opinion is divided on the origin of the term. "Chav" may have its origins in the Romani word "chavi" ("child") or "chaval" ("boy"), which later came to mean "man". [3] [8] [9] The word "chavvy" has existed since at least the 19th century; lexicographer Eric Partridge mentions it in his 1950 dictionary of slang and unconventional English, giving its date of origin as c. 1860.
The slang term "Chad" originated in the UK during World War II and was employed in a similar humorous manner as Kilroy was here. [1] It later came into use in Chicago [2] as a derogatory way to describe a young, wealthy man from the city's northern suburbs, typically single and in his twenties or early thirties. [2]