), calls its history “chiefly US,” with this first citation from an 1876 glossary: “, a fool; a person uncultivated; a dupe.” In 1957, the. One way to blunt the hurt of an insult is for the target to co-opt it, embrace it, neutralize it, use it in a positive or self-identifying way. Getting to be part of the launch of Cirque's 10 year run at the former Kodak Theater in Hollywood California was an amazing honor. The transformation of “geek” from an insult to a neutral or proud self-label, albeit still considered slang, can be traced more through its use as a verb than as a noun. Over time, the meaning of geek has changed to include anyone with an obsession that places him outside mainstream society. 1: “A person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy”; “A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.”. Between 1980 and 1990, according to Nexis, nearly all the 700 or so citations for “geek” were negative, describing undesirable people or traits. showed up around 1946, long after the noun form. The rise and fall of Stanton Carlisle, a mentalist whose lies and deceit prove to be his downfall. To “geek” or “geek out” traces to the US in 1935, the OED says, to mean “To give up, to back down; to lose one’s nerve.” “To geek” in a circus, or particularly to bite the head off an animal (we’re looking at you, Ozzy Osbourne) showed up around 1946, long after the noun form. About that circus performer explanation that Michael Lewis cited: that, too, is chiefly American, the. defines the verb “geek” as “To excite emotionally: You can also see the mainstreaming of “geek” in, , the one the AP and many news organizations follow. temporarily and inappropriately) in technical discussions, perform a technically complicated task, etc.” (All from the OED.) Dictionaries generally believe it to be an alteration of the word “geck,” or “fool,” from Middle or Low German. It lists definitions in historical order: The first one for “geeks” is the carnival performer; then comes “any person considered to be different from others in a negative or bizarre way,” and finally, “a person regarded as being especially enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and skillful, esp. That’s still negative. Some explain what the term “geek” meant, indicating it was still relatively new. The Salomon Brothers traders seem to have come up with those other descriptions on their own, though they fit into “geek’s” negative origins. About that circus performer explanation that Michael Lewis cited: that, too, is chiefly American, the OED says, tracing it to 1919. for some time. Or so says the red American Heritage Dictionary.” When Lewis arrived at Salomon Brothers in London, “a trader told me that a geek was both (a) ‘any person who sucks farts from swans’ and (b) ‘a person immediately out of the training program and in a disgusting larval state between trainee and man.’ I, he said, was a geek.”. This was last updated in August 2006 Continue Reading About geek Between 1990 and 2000, the use of “geek” exploded along with the personal computer market. So then why does Best Buy proudly advertise its “Geek Squad” service, sending those people to your home to fix your electronics? One way to blunt the hurt of an insult is for the target to co-opt it, embrace it, neutralize it, use it in a positive or self-identifying way. Dictionaries generally believe it to be an alteration of the word “geck,” or “fool,” from Middle or Low German. 1: That’s still negative. So then why does Best Buy proudly advertise its “. ICYMI: AP announces new policy over the term ‘collision’. Here’s what he says about “geeks”: “A geek is a circus performer who bites the heads off live chickens and snakes. Using it to refer to oneself or to someone you know embraces the label is always the safest way to avoid unintended pain. But now, that definition is No. To “geek” or “geek out” traces to the US in 1935, the, says, to mean “To give up, to back down; to lose one’s nerve.” “To geek” in a circus, or particularly to bite the head off an animal (. ) The transformation of “geek” from an insult to a neutral or proud self-label, albeit still considered slang, can be traced more through its use as a verb than as a noun. Geek shows brought up a very valid and real fear, that any normal person (including those in the audience) could in fact become a freak. ” service, sending those people to your home to fix your electronics? 2 in the “geek” entry, meaning less common, and these are No. Near the top of that list is the air time and free advertising ($2 billion worth, according to... .” When Lewis arrived at Salomon Brothers in London, “a trader told me that a geek was both (a) ‘any person who sucks farts from swans’ and (b) ‘a person immediately out of the training program and in a disgusting larval state between trainee and man.’ I, he said, was a geek.”, The circus performer definition was, indeed, the only one in. says, Jack Kerouac introduced the “deprecative” concept of a “geek” as “An overly diligent, unsociable student; any unsociable person obsessively devoted to a particular pursuit.” And the association with computers and other electronics emerged around 1983, in an early Usenet newsgroup. says, tracing it to 1919. Directed by Edmund Goulding. But back to “geeks.” The Oxford English Dictionary calls its history “chiefly US,” with this first citation from an 1876 glossary: “Gawk, Geek, Gowk or Gowky, a fool; a person uncultivated; a dupe.” In 1957, the OED says, Jack Kerouac introduced the “deprecative” concept of a “geek” as “An overly diligent, unsociable student; any unsociable person obsessively devoted to a particular pursuit.” And the association with computers and other electronics emerged around 1983, in an early Usenet newsgroup. (The Associated Press, which has advised putting “Obamacare” in quotations because of its slang nature and negative beginnings, says it is reconsidering its policy.). It lists definitions in historical order: The first one for “geeks” is the carnival performer; then comes “any person considered to be different from others in a negative or bizarre way,” and finally, “a person regarded as being especially enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and skillful, esp. in technical matters.”. In Liar’s Poker, his 1989 seminal account of trading, Michael Lewis has a chapter called “From Geek to Man.” Here’s what he says about “geeks”: “A geek is a circus performer who bites the heads off live chickens and snakes. Nightmare Alley (1947) Tyrone Power , Joan Blondell - YouTube We saw that happen with “Obamacare,” which began as a pejorative way to refer to the Affordable Care Act, but has become increasingly neutral, as supporters and news reports have adopted it. Or so says the red American Heritage Dictionary.” When Lewis arrived at … This Google Ngram traces the explosion simultaneously in books, though there’s no context for how “geek” was used: Keep in mind that “geek” can still be an insult, depending on the target and context. 2 in the “geek” entry, meaning less common, and these are No. The circus performer definition was, indeed, the only one in American Heritage for some time. (in Computing) to engage (esp. With Tyrone Power, Joan Blondell, Coleen Gray, Helen Walker. But now, that definition is No. in technical matters.”, AP announces new policy over the term ‘collision’, Delacorte Lectures on Magazine Journalism, Magazines and their websites: A CJR survey and report, © Copyright 2020 Columbia Journalism Review. Not even a hint of a pocket-protector in that last one. temporarily and inappropriately) in technical discussions, perform a technically complicated task, etc.” (All from the. Things sped up with the arrival of computers: To “geek up” in 1984 meant “To excite or stimulate (a person); to make (a person) nervous or jittery”; to “geek out” showed up in 1992 to mean “To behave like a geek; esp. ,” which began as a pejorative way to refer to the Affordable Care Act, but has become increasingly neutral, as supporters and news reports have adopted it. Things sped up with the arrival of computers: To “geek up” in 1984 meant “To excite or stimulate (a person); to make (a person) nervous or jittery”; to “geek out” showed up in 1992 to mean “To behave like a geek; to engage (esp. Since Donald Trump became president, there has been a never-ending series of articles about what the media did to enable his victory. And now, to bring it full circle, the American Heritage Dictionary defines the verb “geek” as “To excite emotionally: I’m geeked about that new video game.”, You can also see the mainstreaming of “geek” in Webster’s New World College Dictionary, the one the AP and many news organizations follow. (, which has advised putting “Obamacare” in quotations because of its slang nature and negative beginnings, says it is reconsidering its policy. The Salomon Brothers traders seem to have come up with those other descriptions on their own, though they fit into “geek’s” negative origins. (Bill Gates was often called the “ultimate geek,” meant as a compliment.) When looking at exhibits featuring people with microcephaly (known as pinheads) or those with hypertrichosis (commonly referred to as werewolf syndrome), audience members could feel comforted, knowing that they could not catch or develop such conditions.