creeper

[Arnold Zwicky]

On Mar 13, 2010, at 6:24 AM, Jon Lighter wrote:

> A_creeper_ seems to creep you out more than a creep...

i don't *think* anyone has checked out the OED on "creep".  here's
what OED2 says:

the noun "creep" is listed as slang (orig. U.S.) for 'a despicable,
worthless, stupid, or tiresome person', with cites from 1886 on in
this sense (which it relates to an earlier sense, described as now
obsolete, 'creeping fellow', with a link to "creeper").

another possible contribution to this use of the noun "creep" (and the
verb "creep out") is the  verb "creep" of "creeping of the flesh", as
in the adjective "creepy".  OED2 on "creepy": 'having a creeping of
the flesh, or chill shuddering feeling, caused by horror or
repugnance' (cites from 1831 on), with the transferred sense 'tending
to produce such sensations' (cites from 1883 on). it seems to me that
the meaning has been extended further, without necessarily involving
creeping of the flesh.

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