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My dad, a WWII veteran of the Pacific Theatre, told me that hubba hubba was from Japanesse soldiers speaking, "hurry hurry," but having difficulty enunciating the "Rs." This is a darker origin tale, and I hope is in error. It might have been picked-up from newsreels of the time, involving the Japanesse invasion of China. Were there any Chinese or Japanesse radio "characters" that might have used it this way? Thought it worth a suggestion.
He also called the full moon, "...a bomber moon." Night air-attack was more frequent during a full-moon in the pre-GPS war. A term worthy of extinction.
Great program! I recommend it to my NPR station every pledge-time.
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laager
Walla Walla
I think your wish is granted in that reference works are either silent on or dismissive of that common folk etymology. Check out the dictionary.com / Random House note on the origin.
Hubba-hubba.
I wonder... This was at a time when US military forces were stationed in Hawaii, and the Hawaiian language includes a number of words which consist of repeated syllables - nene, akuaku, ukulele, and so on. Might the soldiers/sailors have picked this up as a sort of faux-Hawaiian word, perhaps as a response to the (female) hula dancers?
Back in the 50's, my mom took me to the high school variety show every year (skits, singing, dance band, comedy). They always had a chorus line. My mom probably told me they were hubba hubba girls. During intermission, I asked loudly enough for everyone to hear, "When are the hubba hubba gals coming back?" Back then, I suppose it was a very funny question which made everyone around us laugh. I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed the discussion on the radio.
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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