balderdash English · revision 2392

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbɔːldə.dæʃ/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Of obscure origin.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)^(MW Collegiate) Etymonline suggests that the second element is ''dash'' and that the first may be akin to Danish ''balder'' “noise, clatter”, while noting that it may be an Elizabethan formation of no definite elements.^(Etymonline) The American Heritage Dictionary suggests an alteration of [[la-med|balductum|t=posset]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Perhaps froth or a frothy liquid (1596), a sense the OED marks as doubtful;^(OED 1989) then a jumbled mixture of liquors such as milk and beer or beer and wine (1611).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From a muddled mix of drinks, the word passed in 1674 to a senseless jumble of words, “nonsense”,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) which is its only common modern sense.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) A verb meaning “to adulterate liquor” is recorded in the same year.^(OED 1989) In dialect it was also used of obscene talk or writing.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1596 – froth, frothy liquid (doubtful).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1611 – a jumbled mixture of liquors.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1674 – senseless talk or writing; nonsense.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1674 – verb, to mix or adulterate liquors.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Senseless, stupid or exaggerated talk or writing; nonsense.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' A muddled mixture of liquors.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(dialect)'' Obscene language or writing.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}