Word of the Day

: April 1, 2007

whammy

noun WAM-ee

What It Means

1 a : a supernatural power bringing bad luck

b : a magic curse or spell : jinx, hex

2 : a potent force or attack; specifically : a paralyzing or lethal blow

whammy in Context

"The nation's working poor have been hit by another whammy," said the senator, referring to a recent tax hike.

Did You Know?

The origin of "whammy" is not entirely certain, but it is assumed to have been created by combining "wham" ("a solid blow") with the whimsical "-y" ending. The first example of "whammy" in print occured in 1940, but the word was popularized in the 1950s by the cartoonist Al Capp in the comic strip "Li'l Abner." The character Evil-Eye Fleegle could paralyze someone with the sheer power of his gaze. The "single whammy" was a look with one eye, and the fearsome "double whammy" used both eyes. As you may know, "double whammy" has also found a place in English as a general term. It means "a combination of two adverse forces, circumstances, or effects" -- in other words, a one-two punch.

*Indicates the sense illustrated by the example sentence.