bogus English · revision 2384

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbəʊ̯ɡəs/ ''(UK)''; /ˈboʊ̯ɡəs/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ An American English word,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) the adjectival use of a slang noun ''bogus'' that named a machine for making counterfeit coins (1827) and then counterfeit money itself.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) Its further origin is uncertain:^(RHWU) some trace it to ''tantrabobus, tantrabogus'', a Vermont word for any odd-looking object and later the devil,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) others to the source of ''bogey''.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a noun, an apparatus for counterfeit coining (1827).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The adjective “counterfeit, spurious” is dated 1838 by Barnhart, 1839 by the OED and Etymonline, and 1825 by Merriam-Webster.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective was first applied to counterfeit coin,^(OED 1989) then widened to anything fake or sham.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) Modern informal uses include “undesirable, harmful” and “incorrect, broken”.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1827 – noun, a machine for counterfeiting coin.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1838 – adjective, counterfeit.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1839 – adjective, counterfeit, spurious, sham.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1842 – noun, counterfeit coin.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not genuine; counterfeit, fake or sham.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(informal)'' Based on false information or unjustified assumptions; incorrect or broken.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bogusly]]

+ * [[bogusness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bogey]]

+ * [[phony]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}