The Big Apple:

An etymological dictionary

Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.

Za (pizza)

"Za" is a clipped form of the word "pizza." The term "za" has been cited in print since the 1960s, but achieved its greatest slang popularity in the 1980s. (Oxford…

Delish (delicious)

"Delish" is another way of saying "delicious" and has been cited in print since at least 1920. Television chef Rachael Ray has made "delish" one of her catchwords,…

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer

"Chief cook and bottle washer" (sometimes "bottle-washer" or "battlewasher") is a jocular term for a person who does everything. It often describes a small operation,…

Din-din (dinner)

"Din-din" is a child's way of saying "dinner." "Din-din" is cited in print from at least 1861 and appeared first in English (and not American) publications.…