beezer en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Unknown, perhaps from Spanish cabeza (“head”), though the meaning “head” appears to somewhat postdate “nose” in English. First attested in 1908, originally apparently as American boxing slang. Various sources have suggested a borrowing, perhaps by American sailors or marines, from Mandarin 鼻子 (“nose”). While the Mandarin may have reinforced an existing term, an ultimate derivation from Mandarin is improbable given the context and time frame of early use.
Meanings
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(dated, slang) nose
“Now, don’t be turnin’ up that busted beezer of yours so proud an’ haughty.[…]”
1919, Charles Emmett Van Loan, Taking the Count: Prize Ring Stories, page 183:“In der beezer, Casey, slam him in der beezer!” ¶ At the ropes Casey fought back, but was obliged to clinch.
1913, “Kid Ivanhoe”, in Adventure, volume 7, page 131:I am paying no attention to them, because they are drinking local ale, and talking loud, and long ago I learn that when a Boston character is engaged in aleing himself up, it is a good idea to let him alone, because the best you can get out of him is maybe a boff on the beezer.
1937, Damon Runyon, A Piece of Pie:She had an ink spot on her nose, the result of working on her novel of suspense. It is virtually impossible to write a novel of suspense without getting a certain amount of ink on the beezer. Ask Agatha Christie or anyone.
1960, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter V, in Jeeves in the Offing:
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(dated, slang) head
Beezer, head
[1937, “Slang: American Slang”, in The Encyclopædia Britannica, 14th edition, volume 20, page 768:“[…] If the hogs ate your beezer with all the phony ideas you’ve got in it, they’d croak!”
1928, Robert Joyce Tasker, Grimhaven, page 110:We were beating up into the wind, when Captain Pray decided to tack, and her concise order to me was “Duck your beezer!” and while I was wondering which part of the boat a beezer was, the boom just missed the top of my head and she remarked, “I told you to duck.”
1921 July 24, Eleanor Pray, “[Letter home]”, in Birgitta Ingemanson, editor, Letters from Vladivostok, 1894–1930, published 2013, page 98:“If you’re mad, go to Lindewiese— / Then be glad, put an old hat on your beezer!”
1936, Adolf Lorenz, My Life and Work: The Search for a Missing Glove, page 4:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| beezers | Number=Plur | lexicographic |