Michigander

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A native or resident of the state of Michigan in the United States of America.
  2. In particular, a man from Michigan, contrasted with a Michigoose (“woman from Michigan”).

Pronunciation

[ˈmɪ.ʃəˌɡæn.dɚ]

Word forms

Michigander Michiganders

Etymology

] Attributed to Abraham Lincoln, in a speech of July 27, 1848, as pejorative reference to Lewis Cass, Michigan politician: : There is one entire article of the sort I have not discussed yet; I mean the military tale you Democrats are now engaged in dovetailing onto the great Michigander. Ostensibly coined as a blend of Michigan + gander (“male goose, simpleton”) (punning on “tale” and “(dove)tail(ing)”). Alternatively from and/or later reanalyzed as Michigan + -d- (epenthetic) + -er (“resident of”).

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