funnies etymology

Etymology:

The word "funnies" comes from the following linguistic progression:

  • Funny: Middle English "funnie," from Old English "fune," meaning "foolish, silly"
  • Funniments: Early 19th century, meaning "amusing incidents or stories"
  • Funnies: Late 19th century, coined as a slang term for comic strips published in newspapers or magazines

Meaning:

"Funnies" refers to a genre of illustrated humorous stories or gags, typically arranged in a series of panels and published in newspapers, magazines, or online platforms. They are designed to evoke amusement, laughter, or a sense of humor in the reader.

Origin:

The concept of using pictures or drawings to convey humor dates back to ancient Egypt and China. However, the modern format of the comic strip as we know it emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In 1895, Richard Outcault created the popular comic strip "The Yellow Kid," which featured a mischievous boy with a large yellow nightshirt. The strip's success and widespread distribution in newspapers helped establish comic strips as a staple of daily and Sunday reading material.

Over the years, countless other comic strips and artists emerged, solidifying the "funnies" as an enduring form of entertainment and humor.

funnies relate terms

  • funny

    1 Etymology Balderdash Meaning Nonsense foolish talk Origin From Middle English ba

  • strip

    Etymology The word strip has several etymological roots Old English stripian or

  • paper

    Etymology The word paper originates from the Coptic word papyrus which refers to a w

  • cartoon

    Etymology Cartoon derives from the Italian word cartone large thick paper which in

  • sprit

    Etymology The word sprit has two distinct etymologies 1 From Old French Espe o

  • stirp

    Etymology Latin stirps meaning stock lineage race Meaning A line of des

  • newspaper

    Etymology The word newspaper is derived from two words New Old English newe mean

  • laugh

    Etymology The word laugh comes from the Middle English word laghchen which in turn d

  • jest

    Etymology Old English gest Proto Germanic gast Proto Indo European gʰosti

  • frame

    Etymology Middle English frame from Old French frame fram from Frankish ram of unc