different between ditzy vs dingy

English

Alternative forms

• ditsy

Etymology

Since early 1800's 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

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?d?tsi/

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.

Related terms

• ditz

Translations

English

Etymology 1

From English dialectal (Kentish) dingy (“dirty”), of unknown origin, though probably from an unrecorded Middle English *dingy, *düngy, from Old English *dyncgi? (“covered with dung, dirty”), an umlaut form of Old English duncge, dung (“dung”), equivalent to dung +? -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?d?n.d?i/

Adjective

dingy (comparative dingier, superlative dingiest)

1. drab; shabby; dirty; squalid
   • 1854, Charles Dickens, Household Words

     He led her at last into a dingy sanctum, dimly lighted by one shaded lamp. In this safe there were piles of dingy papers and more dingy ledgers ; with great piles of accounts on hooks in the wall

Synonyms

• (drab): dismal, drab, dreary, gloomy, grimy

Antonyms

• (drab): bright, clean

Derived terms

• dingily
• dinginess

Translations

Etymology 2

Noun

dingy (plural dingies)

1. Alternative form of dinghy

References

• dingy at OneLook Dictionary Search
• dingy in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• dying