Dill-weeds

Posted by RRC on November 21, 2005

In Reply to: Dill-weeds posted by Brian from Shawnee on November 20, 2005

: : : : "snickering dill-weeds" A review in Slate of a Beavis and Butt-head DVD refers to them as "two snickering dill-weeds". I have never heard dill weed used this way. Has the expression been around awhile?

: : : I don't know. I couldn't find it in a youth slang dictionary. The Dictionary of American Regional English says dillweed is a plant, dog fennel. And "dillberry" is excrement hanging on a sheep's wool."

: : : See the Urban Dictionary at: www.urbandictionary.com

: : Well, it's every writer's right to make up his own metaphors, and that's probably the case here. Dill weeds are, of course, the source of dill. But as regards Beavis and Butt-head, the only comparison is that the plant is rather untidy looking, weedy and sometimes tall (as much as three feet). The whole plant smells, and the seeds or seed-oil can be used to treat "flatulent colic" (EB Online). SS

: I'll personally attest dillweed as being at least from the early 1970's and used in northeastern New Jersey. I'd guess it came about because we could get in trouble for calling each other "dildo", but not "dillweed", since the latter is just an innocent herb.

A related term which I also remember from the '70's and Google suggests is in the B & B cartoons is "dill hole". Possibly because dill looks a little like fine (green) curly hair?