# Did anyone really say "ginchy"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 1, 2017, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228 "2017-12-01T08:03:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/1 "2017-12-01T08:03:54Z")
While we all knew the word, I think the only time anyone would have used it would have been as ‘movie talk’. Someone acting like Kookie. Any Valley Girls out there? Heck, were there Valley Girls back in the late 1950s? Maybe Edd Byrnes inspired the start of the Valley Girls. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/2 "2017-12-01T13:42:45Z")
I saw it used a few times in the 1960’s, probably in Mad magazine. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/3 "2017-12-01T13:46:39Z")
No, I would never say “ginchy”. I say things are “the ginchiest”! But only if they are really nifty. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/4 "2017-12-01T13:54:28Z")
I don’t think I have ever heard that word. What is supposed to mean? Pronunciation? Root word? ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/5 "2017-12-01T14:24:09Z")
I misread the OP as “grinchy”, to which I said “hell yeah!”. _Ginchy_? No, but I like it!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/6 "2017-12-01T15:04:17Z")
People used “fo shizzle” in real life, I have no doubt people used “ginchy” as well. As to the definition of ginchy - [ginchy - Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ginchy) It appears that it was coined in the 1930’s, so its use in the 1960’s was more of a revival. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/7 "2017-12-01T15:20:51Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I don’t think I have ever heard that word. What is supposed to mean? Pronunciation? Root word? Example: [Kookie Lend Me Your Comb](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpABRTn6kSA). Just…just skip to 1:58 I’ll say it on occasion, but only as humor. I’m good for dropping the occasional “groovy” and “swell” into conversations, as well as referring to men as “cats”. Mostly just to keep conversations interesting and light. In fact, to day I believe I will advise someone that they are the ginchiest. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/8 "2017-12-01T17:21:14Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > No, I would never say “ginchy”. I say things are “the ginchiest”! But only if they are really nifty. What if they’re merely keen? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/9 "2017-12-01T17:49:40Z")
I’ve never seen nor heard “ginchy,” but “ginch” was a rude word for “woman” in the sixties/seventies. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/10 "2017-12-01T18:25:02Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > What if they’re merely keen? Oh never, that would be bogus. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/11 "2017-12-01T18:33:16Z")
Far out, man! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/12 "2017-12-02T00:24:42Z")
Never heard or read of of “ginchy” before this thread. > [@Trinopus](#): > > I’ve never seen nor heard “ginchy,” but “ginch” was a rude word for “woman” in the sixties/seventies. Never heard of that either. Where were you then? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/13 "2017-12-02T00:28:12Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Never heard or read of of “ginchy” before this thread Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/14 "2017-12-02T04:46:57Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Ditto. I deliberately worded the post without explanation to see who remembered the word. Actually, I stand corrected, Kookie would have said it this way: “That’s the ginchiest, Dad!” Nice explanation of the character here: > **[Edd Byrnes | 77 Sunset Strip](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edd_Byrnes#77_Sunset_Strip)** > > Byrnes was cast in Girl on the Run, a pilot for a detective show starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr. Byrnes played contract killer Kenneth ("Kookie") Smiley, who continually combed his hair – Byrnes said this was an idea of his which the director liked and kept in. Around this time Byrnes decided to change his acting name from "Edward" to "Edd". "I just dreamed it up one day", he said. "Edward is too formal and there are lots of Eddies." > The show aired in October 1958 and was so popular Warners decided... Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/15 "2017-12-02T04:52:42Z")
I know ginchy. I also know crunk. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/16 "2017-12-02T06:06:39Z")
I don’t recognize the word. But it conjured up a picture of Sally Field as “Gidget”, so maybe she used it at some point? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/17 "2017-12-02T08:26:48Z")
Ginchy is wickety-wickety-wack. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/18 "2017-12-02T09:26:11Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Never heard or read of of “ginchy” before this thread. > > Never heard of that either. Where were you then? > [@Trinopus](#): > > I’ve never seen nor heard “ginchy,” but “ginch” was a rude word for “woman” in the sixties/seventies. I wasn’t alive during the 60s but I recognise that usage of the word from Hunter S. Thompson’s book _Hell’s Angels._ ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/19 "2017-12-04T07:02:55Z")
All I remember is that Zap Comics are squinky comics! ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228/20 "2017-12-04T14:05:27Z")
I believe it was in use as fas back as Tudor England. My [cite](https://youtu.be/HYr5LGN1xYk?t=218). 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-really-say-ginchy/803228.md?page=2)