beezer

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. nose
  2. head
noun
  1. A smart person, a bloke.
adj
  1. Excellent, super.

Pronunciation

En-au-beezer.ogg

Word forms

beezer beezers more beezer most beezer

Etymology

Unknown, perhaps from Spanish cabeza (“head”), though the meaning “head” appears to somewhat postdate “nose” in English. First attested in 1908, originally apparently as American boxing slang. Various sources have suggested a borrowing, perhaps by American sailors or marines, from Mandarin 鼻子 (“nose”). While the Mandarin may have reinforced an existing term, an ultimate derivation from Mandarin is improbable given the context and time frame of early use.

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