michigander
[ˈmɪ.ʃəˌɡæn.dɚ]
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.43 in modern English
20
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
3
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
In particular, a man from Michigan, contrasted with a Michigoose (“woman from Michigan”).
Humorous
Example Sentences
- "Where is the little Michigander or Michigoose who is plugging along, so contentedly ensconced in his bi-valve surroundings as not to be touched by even an echo of the great state meeting of his profession?"
- "From Dale E. Pasco of Owosso: "My parents were both one room school teachers and they taught it this way: I'm a Michigander, my wife is a Michigoose, our kids are Michigoslins, so what is the use.""
Etymology
] Attributed to Abraham Lincoln, in a speech of July 27, 1848, as pejorative reference to Lewis Cass, Michigan politician: : There is one entire article of the sort I have not discussed yet; I mean the military tale you Democrats are now engaged in dovetailing onto the great Michigander. Ostensibly coined as a blend of Michigan + gander (“male goose, simpleton”) (punning on “tale” and “(dove)tail(ing)”). Alternatively from and/or later reanalyzed as Michigan + -d- (epenthetic) + -er (“resident of”).
Word Breakdown
- Suffix: er