rad (1977, 1978)

Benjamin Zimmer bgzimmer at RCI.RUTGERS.EDU
Fri Sep 30 08:40:15 UTC 2005


rad = 'cool, radical' (OED/MWCD11 1982)

-----
Los Angeles Times, Sep 18, 1977, (Orange County) p. IX10/2
Rad -- Short for radical. Radical skaters are those who try new and often
dangerous stunts.
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?RQT=309&VName=HNP&did=654000192
-----
Los Angeles Times, Sep 21, 1978, p. IV16/1
Radical: Getting crazy on your board; attempting something that's
difficult, such as riding vertical.
Rad: Synonym for "Radical" -- more commonly used than Radical. [...]
Gnarly: Crazy, like Rad; used for outstanding daring feats or outstanding
wipe-outs. [...]
Shredding: When a skater is "hot"; when he is "ripping it up" with Rad moves.
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?RQT=309&VName=HNP&did=651438682
-----

(Both articles are compilations of skateboarding slang.)


--Ben Zimmer



More information about the Ads-l mailing list