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raunchy

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 12:13 pm
by William Hupy
I am unable to find an origin for this word. Does anyone have an idea?

Re: raunchy

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 2:32 pm
by Perry Lassiter
raunchy (adj.)
1939, "clumsy, careless, sloppy," U.S. Army Air Corps slang, of unknown origin. Origins among cadets in Texas suggest possible connection to Mexican Spanish rancho (see ranch (n.)), which had connotations of animal filth by 1864. Sense of "coarse, vulgar, smutty" is from 1967. Related: Raunchiness.
Online Etym Dict

Re: raunchy

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 6:12 pm
by Philip Hudson
I can't buy Etymonline's suggested guess. It is a stretch to blame it on the word ranch or rancho. The word ranch has an interesting etymology, coming from Mexican Spanish to English were it got a new meaning and then having the meaning transferred back to the Spanish rancho.

Re: raunchy

Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 12:00 am
by Philip Hudson
Raunchy or raunch has not yet made it to Good Word status. I am reviving it due to a recent television program where some of the "entertainment" was styled as raunchy. Lady Gaga performed, but raunch is her stock in trade, so nothing new there. Madonna, an outstandingly talented actor and singer, had her raunchy episodes as the Material Girl. I didn't actually view the TV program Sunday, but I saw clips and discussions on newscasts and the Internet. Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus), the idol of the preteen set for years, seems to have reached the apex of raunch. Who would have thunk it? In the light of the prevalence of raunch, perhaps we should move this bad word to the Good Word forum. On the other hand, the word might not deserve such honor. I previously trounced the only suggested etymology available. So what is there left to say?