Buzz
While cartoons, comics, and newspaper strips may seem like unlikely sources for new vocabulary, English is a remarkably diverse language. Given the widespread daily reach of comic strips, it’s no surprise that some of their coined terms have seamlessly integrated into everyday language. Explore the fascinating origins of 10 such examples.
1. Brainiac
The iconic Brainiac, a cold and highly intelligent foe of Superman, debuted as an alien in DC Comics’ Action Comics #242, “The Super-Duel In Space,” in 1958. However, DC Comics later discovered the name was already used for a DIY computer kit. In response, Brainiac was reimagined as a “computer personality,” evolving into one of Superman’s greatest adversaries. By the early 1970s, the term had entered general usage as a nickname for someone exceptionally intelligent or knowledgeable.
2. Curate’s Egg
The phrase like the curate’s egg, originating in 19th-century England, refers to something that is a mix of good and bad elements. This expression traces back to a single-panel cartoon titled “True Humility,” published in the British satire magazine Punch in November 1895. Created by artist George du Maurier, grandfather of novelist Daphne du Maurier, the cartoon portrays a bishop dining with a young curate who is served a spoiled egg. To avoid offending the bishop, the curate politely remarks, “Oh no, my Lord, I assure you, parts of it are excellent,” as he reluctantly consumes the egg.
3. Goon
The term goon is believed to have evolved from gony, an old English sailors’ term for clumsy seabirds like albatrosses and pelicans. By the early 20th century, goon began to describe someone slow-witted or dull. This usage likely inspired Popeye cartoonist EC Segar to introduce Alice the Goon in his Thimble Theater comic series in 1933. Alice, an 8-foot-tall, immensely strong yet loyal character, influenced the slang use of goon in the 1930s to describe a hired enforcer or thug tasked with intimidation.
4. Jeep
The term jeep is widely believed to originate from the pronunciation of “GP,” shorthand for “general purpose” vehicle. If true, jeep joins a rare category of words like deejay,
5. Keeping Up With The Joneses
The phrase keeping up with the Joneses, symbolizing the competitive nature of social status, originates from a comic strip by Arthur “Pop” Momand in 1913. Inspired by Momand’s life in an affluent New York neighborhood, the strip ran for nearly three decades and even spawned a cartoon series in the 1920s. The Joneses, initially intended to be named “The Smiths,” were the unseen neighbors of the main characters, serving as a metaphor for societal competition.
6. Malarkey
The word malarkey, meaning nonsense or foolish talk, is thought to stem from the Irish surname Mullarkey, though its exact origins remain unclear. Its popularization in English is often attributed to cartoonist Thomas Aloysius Dorgan, known as “TAD,” who used it in his Indoor Sports comics in the early 1920s. Interestingly, Dorgan’s spelling varied—once as Milarkey and in another instance, a courtroom scene featured a character exclaiming, “Malachy! You said it: I wouldn’t trust a lawyer no further than I could throw a case of Scotch!” Dorgan is also credited with coining phrases like cat’s pajamas and drugstore cowboy.
7. Milquetoast
Inspired by the unremarkable dish “milk toast,” Caspar Milquetoast was introduced by cartoonist Harold T. Webster in 1924. As the protagonist of Webster’s Timid Soul comic strip, Caspar was depicted as a meek, mild-mannered, and bespectacled elderly man. Webster famously described him as someone who “speaks softly and gets hit with a big stick.” By the mid-1930s, his name had become synonymous with anyone overly timid or ineffectual.
8. Poindexter
When Felix the Cat transitioned to television in the late 1950s, new characters were introduced, including Poindexter, a highly intelligent, labcoat-wearing schoolboy. Created by cartoonist Joe Oriolo, Poindexter was the nephew of Felix’s rival, The Professor. Oriolo reportedly named the character after his attorney. By the early 1980s, Poindexter had entered slang as a term for a nerdy or overly intellectual individual.
9. Shazam
The term Shazam originated in Whiz Comics #2 in February 1940, as the name of an ancient wizard who grants young Billy Batson the power to become Captain Marvel. Shazam also served as Captain Marvel’s magical incantation, enabling him to harness the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the endurance of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the bravery of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury.
10. Zilch
Meaning “zero,” zilch entered English slang in the early 1960s. However, from the 1930s onward, it was used to describe someone insignificant or nonexistent. This usage was popularized by a series of cartoons in Ballyhoo magazine in 1931, featuring an invisible, inept businessman named “President Henry P. Zilch.” While the name may have been invented, it likely drew inspiration from the 1920s student slang term Joe Zilsch, akin to modern terms like John Doe or Joe Sixpack.
This list first ran in 2015 and was republished in 2019.
