# Is Boombatz a Bad Word (re: Rodney Dangerfield's doctor)?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-boombatz-a-bad-word-re-rodney-dangerfields-doctor/257170>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 27, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-boombatz-a-bad-word-re-rodney-dangerfields-doctor/257170 "2004-07-27T22:34:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-boombatz-a-bad-word-re-rodney-dangerfields-doctor/257170/1 "2004-07-27T22:34:05Z")

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I was listening to an old Rodney Dangerfield routine where he mentioned his doctor: Dr. Vinny Boombatz(sp?).

This brought peals of laughter from the audience.

😕

To me, _Boombatz_ sounds like the vaguely Italian/vaguely Polish name of a generic New Jersey street thug. For that I wouldn’t have expected the audience to laugh so hard.

Am I missing something here? Is _Boombatz_ some kind of dirty word?

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**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-boombatz-a-bad-word-re-rodney-dangerfields-doctor/257170/2 "2004-07-28T14:01:52Z")

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Boombat is a joke word among Navy folks; it’s something you send a rookie out to get. I’ve also heard the Magliozzi brothers use the name Vinnie **G** oombatz for a tough-guy character on their show, _Car Talk._

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**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-boombatz-a-bad-word-re-rodney-dangerfields-doctor/257170/3 "2004-07-28T14:35:33Z")

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It’s also a running joke for Dangerfield, so the audience was anticipating the punch line.

He has dozens of punch lines for this setup.

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-boombatz-a-bad-word-re-rodney-dangerfields-doctor/257170/4 "2004-07-29T17:32:45Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> It’s also a running joke for Dangerfield, so the audience was anticipating the punch line.
> 
> He has dozens of punch lines for this setup.

Only dozens? Thats it. They are reacting like a Skynyrd audience would to the opening bars of Freebird. I believe the name was choosen just for its sound, not do to any meaning.

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**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-boombatz-a-bad-word-re-rodney-dangerfields-doctor/257170/5 "2004-07-29T17:48:46Z")

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> [@Loach](#):
>
> They are reacting like a Skynyrd audience would to the opening bars of Freebird.

Skynard fans react to the opening of Freebird with rollicking laughter? 😃