A newly popular word

[Mullins, Bill]

Probably comes from "left wing nut" or "right wing nut".  I've seen it
applied to nuts on either side of the spectrum (along with "moonbat", which
I like better).

"Wing Nut" is also seen on discussion boards about the show "The West Wing",
and is used to describe a fan of the show.  It doesn t seem to have a
perjorative sense, there.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rebecca Larche Moreton [mailto:mlrlm at OLEMISS.EDU]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 4:39 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: A newly popular word
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Rebecca Larche Moreton <mlrlm at OLEMISS.EDU>
> Subject:      A newly popular word
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------
>
> Can anyone tell me what "wing-nut" means in articles on
> recent politics, and something about its use in whatever its
> meaning is there? Thanks in advance.
>
> Becky
>