Bodacious




‘Bodily, totally, root and branch,’ a phrase pressed into one word, ‘bodyaciously’ is given as the etymology for this word: slang from South Carolina. 

Bodacious, in use from 1837 or earlier, may also be a blend of bold and audacious: a word composited from two synonyms.

It was also the name of a bull famous for head butting rodeo contestants.

Comedic chaos.

Language should be this: like us: it requires play to fully live. 







Comments

Jo said…
Love it. Especially the bit about the bull. Funny thing to call him. I've heard the word, probably when in North Carolina. I love word origins.
3 April 2015 at 00:09
Jo said…
How's this for coincidence I went from your blog to Nancy Mock's Hungry Enough to Eat Six and what does she do, wishes her dad a bodacious birthday. http://hungryenoughtoeatsix.com/2015/04/b-is-for-black-white-sandwiches-from-arrow-book-of-easy-cooking
3 April 2015 at 00:17
The Cranky said…
I'd read somewhere, years ago, that it was based on the historical figure of Boudicca. I prefer your playful interpretation.
3 April 2015 at 01:19
Stephen Tremp said…
There was a guy back in the day who used that word every sixty seconds. We'd laugh as he was a funny guy and that's really all he added to a conversation.
3 April 2015 at 02:16
Cygnus said…
Why does this bring to mind the gnarly, radical Jeff Spicoli? :-)
3 April 2015 at 04:45
Geo. said…
I first read the word in the mid-1950s in the Sunday newspaper comics --which is where I learned reading-- in Al Capp's strip "Li'l Abner". Bodacious meant something powerful and pleasant and I have not found it necessary to further define it. I sure appreciate this expanded etymology in your post, though. We are bodacious, Lisa!
3 April 2015 at 04:54
Unknown said…
That's one Bodacious Bull! Just a suggestion, but the comment button on your blog is really hard to see. You may want to change the color so you get more comments! :-)
3 April 2015 at 12:26
Lisa Southard said…
Hope he did have just that - no bull! ;-)
3 April 2015 at 20:30
Lisa Southard said…
Boudicca is a more impressive historical source though- I want this to be true!
3 April 2015 at 20:33
Lisa Southard said…
This word is often overused- but mostly with good humour :-)
3 April 2015 at 20:37
Lisa Southard said…
Righteous word! :-)
3 April 2015 at 20:43
Lisa Southard said…
To the bone, I say! :-)
3 April 2015 at 20:44
Lisa Southard said…
Thank you Lauren- valid suggestion! Blog is due some sprucing so that can go on the To Do list :-)
3 April 2015 at 20:47
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