Dude, the History Behind the Word “Dude" Is Wild



For anybody having grown up in the 1980s or 1990s, the word “dude” conjures up a specific vibe: a laid-back, California surfer, unbothered by the pressing concerns of the world around him. It was also a word that defied specificity — used as a greeting, an agreement, in sympathy, or an exclamation. “Dude” was everywhere. Surprisingly, by the 1980s the term had been around for at least 100 years — think hipsters of the 1880s. They were young, expressionless, effeminate, and they were drawing a bit of attention from the humorists and cartoonists of the day. This crowd had a certain way of dressing — usually over-the-top and fancy — and was often perceived by many as fake or trying too hard. Eventually, these men became known as “dudes,” likely in reference to Yankee Doodle, who, as the old war song goes, was an unsophisticated American who “stuck a feather in his cap” in an attempt to parade around as a European “dandy” in high society. An 1883 article from The New York Times describes a “dudes’ picnic” where thousands of young people rushed to a park in Harlem at the promise of seeing men in “full dude dress.” It was that over-the-top style of dress that brought about the term "dude ranch," experts say. In the late 19th century, traveling out West and experiencing cowboy culture was trendy. People — mostly men — would come from East Coast cities like New York to ranches on vacation, often dressed in full cowboy attire. In the mid-20th century, the term "dude" traveled further across the country, making its way to California, where every blonde-haired male who stepped foot on a surf board was called “dude.” Now, the word is meant to show familiarity with a person. Maybe you don’t use it with your boss or a stranger, but with your friends, it shows that you’re in the same group. Don’t be fooled, though. Even with the rise of “bro,” “dude” still reigns supreme.