dude

dude · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    (Informal) A man or boy.

  2. 2.

    (Historical) A man excessively concerned with looking stylish; a dandy.

  3. 3.

    A city person vacationing on a ranch in the western US.

  4. 4.

    An exclamation expressing surprise, enthusiasm, or greeting.

Forms

plural: dudes

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    dude ranch — A cattle ranch converted into a vacation resort
  • •
    Dude! — An exclamation of surprise or emphasis
  • •
    the dude — A laid-back person (popularized by the film "The Big Lebowski")

Related words

See also: fellow, guy, man
Synonyms: buddy, fellow, guy, man

Etymology

Origin uncertain, possibly from German dialect dude ("fool") or from Yankee Doodle. First appeared in American English in the 1880s to describe a dandy or city slicker.