ditzy
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Alternative forms
Etymology
Since early 1800s commonly used by Pennsylvania Dutch (Penslfawnisch Deitsch); possibly a borrowing from dialectal German dutzig, also dützig, ditzig (“numb, dazed, dizzy, as after having been punched; dull, stupid”), from dialectal dutzen (“to butt, hit, punch”). Compare German verdutzt (“dumbfounded”) and regional Dötsche (“bump, dent, bruise”). Unlikely, an alteration of dizzy, of American origin.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈdɪtsi/
Audio (Southern England): (file) - Rhymes: -ɪtsi
Adjective
ditzy (comparative ditzier, superlative ditziest)
- (informal) Silly or scatterbrained, usually of a young woman.
- 2013, Francisco Goldman, The Long Night of White Chickens, Grove Press (→ISBN), Seven:
- […] —and she'd smile like a primly mischievous Japanese girl, or like some slyly ditzy ingenue on a talk show, all the while watching her interrogator try to fathom (though sometimes they were pretty dim and just said, “Oh”) the surprising cleverness of her answer.
- 2015, Thomas Lisanti, Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959–1969, McFarland, →ISBN, page 262:
- After hiring a crew of young guys and gals including loyal Jo, unlucky-in-love Frankie, strapping Bob, wisecracking Dee Dee, ditzy blonde Jonesy and titian-haired Penny, the gang drives up to the lodge.
Derived terms
Translations
silly or scatterbrained
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