Word origin: Pothead

Factual Questions
1

I was in bed a while ago, trying to sleep and listening to The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour, when the question just floated into my head: Where did the term ‘POTHEAD’ come from? I tried searching the Straight Dope, and had no luck: either no ones asked this, or the question (and answer) are buried under a cryptic thread title. Anyway… anyone know the answer to this one?

2

Partridge says it’s pretty much from what you could have guessed – from “pot” meaning marijuana (he says “pot” may come from the Mexican Spanish “potiguaya”). “Head” had already meant “user” (i.e, dopehead, hop-head; there was even a form “piss-head” for a habitual drinker used in New Zealand in the 1930s.)

3

And in Australia in the 2000s. :slight_smile:

4

Iawoot I think you really want to know where the term “pot” comes from, rather than Pothead.

For instance, “dopehead” can be traced back to 1903 in print in the US, but it would be more interesting to know where the term “dope” for habit-forming drugs came from.

So,—where does “pot” come from as applied to drugs? Is RealityChuck’s cite from Partridge

correct?

5

World English Dictionary
potty 1 (ˈpɒtɪ)

— adj (foll by about or on ) , -tier , -tiest

  1. foolish or slightly crazy
  2. trivial or insignificant
  3. very keen (about)

[C19: perhaps from pot 1 ]

6

Here’s a website with an etymology for the word “pot” as applying to marijuana:

Here’s an old thread about the question: