what is the meaning of dude

The History of the Phrase - "Grateful Dudes"

Grateful - adjective:

1 : appreciative of benefits received b : expressing gratitude
2 : affording pleasure or contentment : pleasing 

3 : pleasing by reason of comfort supplied or discomfort alleviated

Dudes - noun:

1 : men who pays too much attention to their clothes.

2 : men extremely fastidious in dress and manner : i.e.. dandy
3 : city dwellers unfamiliar with life on the range; especially : an Easterner in the West

4 : Slang word used to address another person : i.e.. what's up dude? originally used by surfer types.

Using Roget's Thesaurus, we have devised an alternative list of Grateful Dudes names, these include:

• The Appreciative Fastidious Males
• The Thankful Dandies
• The Desirable Esquires
• The Welcome Gentlemen

• The Pleasing Guys [Editor's Note: I like this one]
  

Dude, here's my history......

In the 1850's - Somebody calls a well-dressed person in New York City a "dude". Nobody knows who made it up, but the word becomes common slang for "fastidious man". The first "dude" may have been Erastus Brooks, editor of the New York Express, in the mid 19th century.

In 1883 - Dude is a "vogue word" of the year, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary  [www.etymology.com], but this time the word is code for people interested in the "aesthetics" fad popular at the time. [People who strive to appear fastidious and well-mannered in every aspect of the lifestyle.]

In the 1890's - As Easterners start to vacation in the West, the word "dude" gains popularity among cowboys, especially in reference to eastern visitors who are trying to be cowboys or fastidious cowboys who dress well.

In 1921 - The term "dude ranch" is first used in print. "Dude Ranch" being a cowboy-like vacation atmosphere were non-cowboys can pretend to be cowboys while escaping from their everyday lives.

In 1930's - The bluegrass team of "Junior and Dude" begin performing together. Later, they change their name to "Homer and Jethro." For more information about these famous DUDES, go to www.countrymusichalloffame.com/inductees/homer_jethro.html

In 1933 - "The Dude Bandit" hits theaters. It is a western starring Hoot Gibson. Also, in the movies, "Lady for a Day", with actor Warren William playing the part of gangster, "Dave the dude." This movie was later remade with Bette Davis and William Holden.

In 1950 - Disney's Donald Duck stars in the cartoon short, "The Dude Duck". Donald gets "duded" up to meet Daisy for a date.

In 1964 - The future "dude" of them all, Keanu Reeves is born in Beirut, Lebanon.

In 1970 - Up until this point, "dude" had referred to a well dressed male. That all changes as California surfers begin to use the word "dude" to refer to any male they are addressing. [i.e.. Hey, dude, surf's up!]

In 1982 - The movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" is a huge hit, and many credit it with popularizing the term "dude". However, in the script, the main character, Jeff Spicoli [played by Sean Penn] doesn't ever use the word "dude". What's up with that, dude?

In 1985 - The movie, "Less Than Zero" by Brett Easton Ellis is first to use the overused phrase, "No way, dude!" Parents across the world recoil in horror.

In 1987 - Aerosmith writes the infamous comeback hit "Dude [Looks Like a Lady]"

In 1989 - "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" opens in theaters and makes Keanu Reeves the most famous "dude" in America. He sets the record by using  "dude" 10 times in the first 15 minutes of the film. He sends the rest of the film trying to break that record, dude!

In late 1980's - Rodger Philips and Scott Micale started playing at Vincenzo's Pizzeria as 'The Grateful Dudes' with Ron Sutton (dobro), Tom Corbett (mandolin), and Rob Carlson (bass).

Around 1993 - Ron Sutton and Tom Corbett left The Grateful Dudes, and Dennis Fetchet joins as their newest dude.

Around 1996 - Rob Carlson leaves The Grateful Dudes to pursue songwriting and Bill Bryson, who had played in the 'Bluegrass Cardinals' with Dennis, joins the 'Dudes' playing bass.

In 1998 - "The Big Lebowski" starring Jeff Bridges and John Goodman features a character called "The Dude".

In 2000 - In a run for the title "most excellent dude", Ashton Kutcher [That 70's Show] stars in the movie "Dude, Where's My Car?" and starts a most heinous landslide of "Dude, Where's My _______?" phrases. [fill in the blank]

In 2003 - For the first time on air, women begin to call each other "dude" in the TV reality show, "Boarding House: North Shore", thus neutering the previously gender specific word.

In September of 2004 - The television show LOST premieres and the character, Hurley uses the word "dude" to refer to everything.... men, women, emotion, questions.  It becomes a popular catch phrase for a new generations of TV fans.

source: http://www.grateful-dudes.net/dude_meaning.htm

Posted in: Entertainment