Eighth season goof. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ohio8 · 05-05-2005, 12:16 PM

In the "Captains Outrageous" episode, Father Mulcahy uses the word "nerd" while talking to Col. Potter about his promtion to Captain. That word wasn't a 1950's word! It was "Happy Days" that first used the word "nerd."

Pentimento · 05-05-2005, 03:54 PM

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary:

nerd: 1951, U.S. student slang, probably an alteration of 1940s slang nert "stupid or crazy person," itself an alteration of nut. The word turns up in a Dr. Seuss book from 1950 ("If I Ran the Zoo"), which may have contributed to its rise. Adjective nerdy is from 1978.

Ohio8 · 05-06-2005, 03:31 PM

Thank you for the correction and the fact.

Pentimento · 05-06-2005, 03:48 PM

You're welcome, and thank you for prompting me to look it up. I always like finding out new things about our strange and ever-expanding language. I suppose that makes me something of a nerd.

TJL · 05-06-2005, 05:51 PM

I saw that episoed the other day, and I always thought it sounded out of place for Father Mulcahey to say that.

05-05-2005, 12:16 PM	#1
Ohio8 Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 29, 2003 Location: Wherever you aren't. Posts: 18,953	Eighth season goof. In the "Captains Outrageous" episode, Father Mulcahy uses the word "nerd" while talking to Col. Potter about his promtion to Captain. That word wasn't a 1950's word! It was "Happy Days" that first used the word "nerd."

05-06-2005, 05:51 PM	#5
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I saw that episoed the other day, and I always thought it sounded out of place for Father Mulcahey to say that.
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05-05-2005, 03:54 PM	#2
Pentimento Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 16, 2004 Location: The Big Valley Posts: 606	According to the Online Etymology Dictionary: nerd: 1951, U.S. student slang, probably an alteration of 1940s slang nert "stupid or crazy person," itself an alteration of nut. The word turns up in a Dr. Seuss book from 1950 ("If I Ran the Zoo"), which may have contributed to its rise. Adjective nerdy is from 1978.

05-06-2005, 03:31 PM	#3
Ohio8 Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 29, 2003 Location: Wherever you aren't. Posts: 18,953	Thank you for the correction and the fact.

05-06-2005, 03:48 PM	#4
Pentimento Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 16, 2004 Location: The Big Valley Posts: 606	You're welcome, and thank you for prompting me to look it up. I always like finding out new things about our strange and ever-expanding language. I suppose that makes me something of a nerd.