No one knows the exact first usage of the word ‘nerd’, but the first documented use came from Dr. Seuss’s book If I Ran the Zoo published in 1950 with the line “a Nerkle, a Nerd, and a Seersucker too”.
The other possible origin of the word ‘nerd’ are:
- The ventriloquist dummy Mortimer Snerd.
- Northern Electric Research and Development labs in Ontario.
- A possible alteration of the word ‘nert’ which is an alternative to ‘nut’.
- From the word knurd (drunk spelled backwards).
The slang meaning of the word is traced back to Detroit, Michigan in 1951 as reported by Newsweek. The slang meaning spread across the United States and Europe by the early 1960s and became a popularized term in the 1970s due to its heavy usage in Happy Days.
What is a Nerd?
The first slang usage of ‘nerd’ was meant as ’square’ (a conservative) or ‘drip’ (a boring person). Over time, it was changed to mean someone who looks different, but has once again changed to mean something entirely different.
Steve Urkel is not a modern-slang-meaning nerd. He is not anti-social. Also, nerds do not always dress that way.
So what is a nerd in todays lingo?
Today, a nerd is someone who is intelligent and anti-social. The rest of the meaning depends on who you ask.
The term can mean someone who:
- is physically unappealing.
- smells badly.
- lacks in confidence.
- goes against popular trends.
- buys the latest tech gadgets.
- follow science-fiction or fantasy.
- stays on the internet far too long.
- is handy with the computer.
What is the difference between a geek and nerd?
The debate of geek vs nerd is heated and almost never ends with an agreement. Some view geeks as simply intelligent individuals while others view them as someone who is simply obsessed with one particular subject-generally technology, science fiction or fantasy-and is intelligent. However, geeks are rarely seen as anti-social.
What is the difference between a dork and a nerd?
Dorks are not intelligent and are often more physically unappealing than nerds. Dorks however, are seen as obsessed with one or more of the following: science fiction, fantasy, or technology.
Which are you?
Written: May 20, 2009
FishHawk
May 20, 2009 @ 11:03 am
I have it on good authority that nerdism is one of the results of side experiments conducted during the Manhattan Project in the 1940’s. The American government went to great pains to cover it all up, but Dr. Seuss refused to cooperate.
Sen and Qi
May 27, 2009 @ 9:26 pm
I always wondered where it came from. I am married to a Chinese nerdy version and he is lovely. always liked Nerds I think they are much nicer than those gold medallion macho men!