# Who is Scott, and why is he great?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-scott-and-why-is-he-great/132187
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 14, 2002, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-scott-and-why-is-he-great/132187 "2002-10-14T04:03:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Hayduke\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayduke_Lives)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2002, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-scott-and-why-is-he-great/132187/1 "2002-10-14T04:03:49Z")
I’ve noticed that on the Old “Super Friends” cartoon, as well as in old comic books, Superman would occassionally utter **“Great Scott”** , usually when he was in awe of something.
So…?😕
Who is Scott and why is he great?
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### Author:  [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2002, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-scott-and-why-is-he-great/132187/2 "2002-10-14T05:40:23Z")
According to [this](http://thecapitalscot.com/pastfeatures/greatscott.html) link, there are a couple of possiblities:
1. General Winfield Scott, hero of the War of 1812 and the Mexican War.
2. A corruption of the German “gruess Gott”
Couple of other links on that page with descriptions of the origin of the phrase.
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### Author:  [@Motog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motog)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2002, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-scott-and-why-is-he-great/132187/3 "2002-10-14T07:55:27Z")
[Merriam Websters](http://www.m-w.com/mw/textonly/wftw/98apr/040198.htm) says:
> [@](#):
>
> The Scott in Great Scott does come from the name, but there is no definitive evidence to prove which Scott gave his or her name to this mild oath used as a euphemism for “Great God.”