Dictionary

wambulance en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈwæm.bjə.ləns/

Etymology

Etymology tree English wah Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂énts? Proto-Indo-European *h₂m̥bʰíder. Proto-Italic *amβi- Latin ambi- Proto-Indo-European *h₂elh₂-der. Proto-Italic *alō Latin *alō Latin ambulō Proto-Indo-European *-onts Latin -ns Latin ambulānsbor. French ambulant ▲ Latin -ns Latin -āns Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin -āntia Old French -ance Middle French -ance French -ance French ambulancebor. English ambulance blend English wambulance Blend of wah + ambulance. The earliest known usage appears in the Disney film Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, slang) A notional ambulance called to the scene when somebody is upset; used in dismissive responses to complaining perceived as being oversensitive.
   • Russ Duritz (Bruce Willis): Waaaaaah. Waaaaaaah. Somebody call the wambulance. 2000, Disney's The Kid:
   • Funny how we didn't see a single post in this NG from "Ron" or Holder during the game. Not surprising, but funny anyway. I'm sure they'll surface sometime. As a precaution, I've already called the wambulance for them. 2007, Rodney Parker, “What a game!”, in alt.sports.football.pro.dallas-cowboys (Usenet):
   • Someone call the Wambulance. Dudley I am so sick of hearing you bitch about how everybody is not suffering enough. 2001, jim, “Outrageous!!!”, in rec.aviation.piloting (Usenet):

Forms

Relateds

world's smallest violin · amberlamps

wikipedia: Who Framed Roger Rabbit