doozy

noun

doo·​zy ˈdü-zē How to pronounce doozy (audio)
variants or doozie or less commonly doozer
plural doozies also doozers
: an extraordinary one of its kind
a real doozy of a snowstorm

Did you know?

While it's often maintained that the word doozy derives from the "Duesenberg" in the name of the famed Duesenberg Motor Company, this is impossible on chronological grounds. Doozy was first recorded (in the form dozy) in eastern Ohio in 1916, four years before the Duesenberg Motor Company began to manufacture passenger cars; the related adjective doozy, meaning "stylish" or "splendid," is attested considerably earlier, in 1903. So where did doozy come from? Etymologists believe that it's an altered form of the word daisy, which was used especially in the late 1800s as a slang term for someone or something considered the best.

Examples of doozy in a Sentence

They say the snowstorm tonight is going to be a doozy. Watch out for that first step. It's a doozy. Some of her comments have been real doozies. a doozy of a year
Recent Examples on the Web Before breathing a sigh of relief, be aware that the solar eclipse in Libra on 2nd October is a doozy. Lisa Stardust, refinery29.com, 1 Oct. 2024 Courtesy of brand Reformation Cherise Linen Dress $298 $89 Reformation Courtesy of brand Reformation Raye Mid-Rise Relaxed Jean Shorts $128 $64 Reformation Madewell Like every year, Madewell’s Labor Day sale is a doozy. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 1 Sep. 2024 Things take some dark and unexpected, not to mention entirely unbelievable turns, notably when Erzsébet confronts the Van Buren family with a doozy of bombshell that is nigh-impossible to see coming. Damon Wise, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2024 Bracken Darrell’s first year as chief executive officer of VF Corp. was a doozy. Evan Clark, WWD, 7 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for doozy 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'doozy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of daisy

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of doozy was in 1916

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near doozy

Cite this Entry

“Doozy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doozy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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