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ditzy

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Since early 1800s commonly used by Pennsylvania Dutch (Penslfawnisch Deitsch); possibly a borrowing from dialectal German dutzig, also dützig, ditzig (“numb, dazed, dizzy, as after having been punched; dull, stupid”), from dialectal dutzen (“to butt, hit, punch”). Compare German verdutzt (“dumbfounded”) and regional Dötsche (“bump, dent, bruise”). Unlikely, an alteration of dizzy, of American origin.

Pronunciation

Adjective

ditzy (comparative ditzier, superlative ditziest)

  1. (informal) Silly or scatterbrained, usually of a young woman.
    • 2011, Ellen Block, The Definition of Wind: A Novel, Bantam, →ISBN, page 31:
      The guy tossed some cash on the counter, then left with the ditzy girl and Abigail's fan.
    • 2013, Francisco Goldman, The Long Night of White Chickens, Grove Press (→ISBN), Seven:
      […] —and she'd smile like a primly mischievous Japanese girl, or like some slyly ditzy ingenue on a talk show, all the while watching her interrogator try to fathom (though sometimes they were pretty dim and just said, “Oh”) the surprising cleverness of her answer.
    • 2015, Thomas Lisanti, Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959–1969, McFarland, →ISBN, page 262:
      After hiring a crew of young guys and gals including loyal Jo, unlucky-in-love Frankie, strapping Bob, wisecracking Dee Dee, ditzy blonde Jonesy and titian-haired Penny, the gang drives up to the lodge.

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Translations

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