Dude

[davemarc]

The columnist Ron Rosenbaum writes about "dude" (and quotes Jesse
Sheidlower) in the current New York Observer (July 7-14, 2003, p. 1, 7):

http://www.observer.com/pages/frontpage6.asp

Has anyone explored a possible connection between "dude" and
"doodle," as in Yankee Doodle? I notice that
http://memory.loc.gov/cocoon/patriotism/loc.natlib.ihas.200000025/ says that
"'Doodle,' as found in old English dictionaries, meant a sorry, trifling
fellow; a fool or simpleton."

David