Howdy is an informal
greeting
Greeting is an act of communication in which human beings intentionally make their presence known to each other, to show attention to, and to suggest a type of relationship (usually cordial) or social status (formal or informal) between indivi ...
, originally a shortened form of the greeting ''How do ye?'' It originated in the South England dialect in circa 1563-1587.
['']Oxford English Dictionary
The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED'') is the first and foundational historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press (OUP). It traces the historical development of the English language, providing a com ...
,'' vol. VII, p. 453–454.
Origin
Literature from that period (1563/87) includes the use of ''How-do, how-do'' and ''How'' as a greeting used by the Scottish when addressing Anglo settlers in greeting. The double form of the idiom is still found in parts of the American Southwest as ''Howdy, howdy''. Without regard to etymological beginnings, the word is used as a greeting such as "Hello" and not, normally, as an inquiry.
Use in different states
In the rural
Southern United States
The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, or simply the South) is a geographic and cultural region of the United States of America. It is between the Atlantic Ocean ...
, ''Howdy'' is a colloquial contraction of the formal greeting of ''How do you do?'', and as such is considered a formal and acceptable greeting in the South, as well as
Western states
The Western world, also known as the West, primarily refers to the various nations and states in the regions of Europe, North America, and Oceania. such as Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, and Wyoming.
References
External links
* McLemore, David.
Saving an Endangered Species: Native Texan Buddy Calk wants "Howdy" to come back, y'all" ''
The Dallas Morning News
''The Dallas Morning News'' is a daily newspaper serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas, with an average print circulation of 65,369. It was founded on October 1, 1885 by Alfred Horatio Belo as a satellite publication of the ''Galvesto ...
''. January 22, 1989.
16th-century neologisms
fiction
Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying individuals, events, or places that are imaginary, or in ways that are imaginary. Fictional portrayals are thus inconsistent with history, fact, or plausibility. In a traditi ...
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