‘Dunk,’ ‘sexist’ and other words that originated in Pennsylvania

There is an article on the Merriam-Webster website that talks about 10 words that originated from Pennsylvania Dutch (or Pennsylvania German as dictionaries have termed it.) And while PennLive has taken a look at odd words and phrases you’ll hear in the Keystone State, I thought it would be interesting to go on a hunt and see what common words originated here.

The sources for this article include Merriam-Webster and the Online Etymology Dictionary, and you can find a complete list of its sources here.

Dunk:

First used in 1926, the verb “to dunk” evolved from the Pennsylvania Dutch word dunke. That , in turn, evolved from the Middle High German word dunken, which means “to seem.” In the modern sense, it means to dip or immerse something in liquid.

From there, it evolved. The term “dunk shot” in basketball. was first used in 1940. Former Los Angeles Lakers announcer Chick Hearn first used the phrase “slam dunk” in 1972. Hearn came up with a number of phrases we now hear in basketball. Check out the list.)

Meanwhile, a donut shop in Quincy, Mass., opened in 1948. Open Kettle was immensely popular, but owners decided on a name change two years later. Inspired by the act of dunking donuts into a mug of coffee, Dunkin’ Donuts (now called Dunkin’) was born.

Hex

If you wish a hex on someone, you are basically telling them to practice witchcraft in Pennsylvania Dutch. First heard in 1830, you can see a number of hex signs around the state. Those have a disputed history of their own.

Hoagie

The origin of this word for a submarine sandwich is disputed. Encylopedia Britannica says that it came from the Philadelphia area during World War I and was used by Italian immigrants who worked at the Hog Island shipyard. They reportedly called the sandwiches “hoggies.” This contradicts Merriam-Webster, who says the word “hoagie” was first used in 1943. There are actually seven theories as to the origin of “hoagie,” but one thing is not in dispute — this common word is all Pennsylvanian.

Kris Kringle

If you’ve seen Santa Claus be referred to as Kris Kringle, you can thank the Pennsylvania Dutch word for “Christ child,” which is “Christ-kinkle.” First used in 1830, it spread rapidly through the country and was a common word for Santa Claus by the mid-1840s, as seen in this Baltimore newspaper ad. Santa is also called Kris Kringle in 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street.”

Ouch

There are two definitions for the word “ouch,” but we’re specifically referring to the phrase that you utter (with or without swear words) when you experience sudden pain. The first-known use of the word is in 1837 from the Pennsylvania Dutch term “outch."

Sexist

The word “sexist” is so common now that it’s hard to believe that the word itself is not even a century old. Pauline M. Leet, director of special programs at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, came up with the word in November 1965 in a paper she presented called “Women and the Undergraduate.” She wrote:

“When you argue … that since fewer women write good poetry this justifies their total exclusion, you are taking a position analogous to that of the racist—I might call you in this case a “sexist” … Both the racist and the sexist are acting as if all that has happened had never happened, and both of them are making decisions and coming to conclusions about someone’s value by referring to factors which are in both cases irrelevant.”

What have I missed? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll dig into the origins.

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