- Wowser
:"Wowsers! is also a signature expression used by the cartoon character
Inspector Gadget ."Wowser is a
slang expression, most commonly heard in Australian andNew Zealand English . It originated in Australia, at first carrying a similar meaning to 'lout', i.e. an annoying or disruptive person, or even a prostitute.However, around 1900 it shifted to its present meaning: one whose sense of morality drives them to deprive others of their sinful pleasures, especially liquor. The term was particularly applied to members of temperance groups such as the antipodean branches of the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union .South Australians claim the term came from a temperance slogan there, "We Only Want Social Evils Remedied." [Peter Howell, "South Australia and Federation" (2002) p 67] However John Norton (January 25, 1858 - April 9, 1916), editor of the scandal-magazine "Truth", claimed he first used the word in 1899 [ [http://www.anu.edu.au/andc/res/aus_words/aewords/aewords_sz.php#wowser ANU - Australian National Dictionary Centre - ANDC ] ] . "Wowser" was frequently used by artist and author
Norman Lindsay , who fought many celebrated battles with "Wowsers" over the sexual content in his art and writing.The Australian writer
C.J. Dennis defined it thus: 'Wowser: an ineffably pious person who mistakes this world for a penitentiary and himself for a warder'.Historian Stuart Macintyre argues, "the achievements of the wowsers were impressive;" they passed laws that restricted obscenity and juvenile smoking, raised the age of consent, limited gambling, closed down many pubs, and in 1915-16 established a 6pm closing hour for pubs, which lasted for decades. [ Stuart Macintyre, "The Oxford History of Australia: vol 4: 1901-42" (2002) p . 112-3]
In recent years, the term has been most often applied to morality-oriented politicians Fred and Elaine Nile and
Brian Harradine . Fact|date=February 2007Americans are likely to associate the word with H. L. Mencken::"In the same way the Archidamian War is more interesting than the fiscal cares of the Four Hundred, and the craft of Pericles takes precedence of his abilities as tax-collector and wowser." American Mercury "The Greeks"
'Wowser' is also the word given to describe a puritanical fanatic [US English]
References
ee also
*
Teetotaler External links
* [http://www.anu.edu.au/andc/res/aus_words/aewords/aewords_sz.php#wowser Discussion of the word, its history, and possible origin]
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