ditzy

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Since early 1800s 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

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Adjective

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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.

Derived terms

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Translations

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