Floozy

Posted by R. Berg on October 31, 2002

In Reply to: Floozy posted by Bookworm on October 30, 2002

: What is the origin of this word, and when did it acquire its current definition? I recall a British software company by the name of Floozietech (sp?), so I don't think it originated in the UK. (Although, you never know....)

Dictionary of Amer. Slang, 1960:

floozie, floosie, floozy, floogy, flugie, faloosie
1. A girl; an average girl or young woman with a good but not beautiful face, an open, honest personality, and a good spirit, but lacking in deep insight, good taste, refinement, and with no more and probably less than average intelligence. c1940: "The Flat-Foot Floogie with the Floy Floy," title of a pop. song. 1945: "The American 'floosie' is picturesque. It . . . to me, at least immediately suggests a substantial charmer with plenty of good spirits and bad scent [perfume]." I. Brown, "A Word in Your Ear" . . . Since c1900; except for some W.W.II USN use, archaic since c1940.
2. Specif., an undisciplined, promiscuous, flirtatious, irresponsible girl or woman, esp. a cynical, calculating one who is only concerned with having a good time or living off the generosity of men; a cheap or loose girl or woman. . . .

Eric Partridge, A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English:
floosie (or -y). A girl (as companion): Naval: since ca. 1940. . . . Adopted from U.S. slang. For origin, cf. 'Flossie'.
Flossie. A prostitute: South Africa: C. 20.