ERR; BUM

Jesse Sheidlower jester at PANIX.COM
Mon Feb 5 03:48:08 UTC 2001


> in the usual way:  bum (n) > bum (v) > bummer (n).  Both the
> chronology of the cites and general word-formation principles would
> seem to support this over the vacuous agentive noun and back-formed
> verb assumed in the bum (n.) > bummer (n.) > bum (v.) derivation the
> RHHDAS favors.  True, "bummer" OUGHT to be blocked by "bum" (with the

"vacuous"! Larry, you do wound me to the quick.

Jesse Sheidlower



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