patsy English · revision 1370

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpætsi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is of uncertain origin.^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) The American Heritage Dictionary, Barnhart and Merriam-Webster suggest [[it|pazzo|t=fool, madman]] or a southern Italian dialect ''paccio'' “fool”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) Etymonline instead derives it from ''Patsy Bolivar'', a meek, slow-witted boy in American comic sketches from 1866, who was blamed for the pranks of others.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A person who is ridiculed, deceived, blamed or victimized (1903).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) Etymonline dates it to 1902.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Patsy Bolivar'' was used of a scapegoat by 1871 and as a humorous fake name for anyone by 1873.^(Etymonline) The word has kept its sense of a dupe or scapegoat,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) and Wiktionary also records the sense of a conspirator chosen by the others to take the blame.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1866 – Patsy Bolivar in American comic sketches.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1871 – ''Patsy Bolivar'', a scapegoat.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1903 – a dupe or victim.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1930 – adjective, satisfactory, now rare.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who is easily cheated, manipulated or made fun of; a [[sucker]] or [[pushover]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person made to take the blame for something; a [[scapegoat]] or fall guy.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dupe]]

+ * [[scapegoat]]

+ * [[fall guy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}