Thanks to all who sent me the link for the word “Fanboy” entering the Merriam-Webster dictionary along with other useful terms like “edamame” and “webinar”. The word is cited all the way back to 1919, doubtless in some kind of “He’s totally a fanboy for Baroness Orczy!” kind of way.
However, Gia Manry was incensed at the lack of inclusion for the distaff term “Fangirl” but was quickly told by lexicographers that it was too soon, too soon:
I did a quick check of our citational database, which house upwards of 17 million citations of words in context, and we only have a handful of citations for “fangirl.” I’m afraid that without more citational backing (and a longer usage history), it’s currently not eligible for entry.
BUT…see comments thread!
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m actually ok with this at this point. I was going to try to explain why, but realized there’s no real way to do it without overgeneralizing in some potentially offensive way–so I’ll just say that given M-W’s reasoning, I don’t think it’s sexist to exclude fangirl for the time being.
The Oxford English Dictionary added “fanboy” and “fangirl” to the listing under “fan”.
And how soon before the use of “zombie” as a mindless fanatic gets added as well?
“He’s totally a fanboy for Baroness Orczy!”
koff hak coffee laughing out of my nose
Remember kids, nothing is official until an “expert” says so. So, if you want something to be official, bribe one today. :)
I imagine we’ll have to wait until about 2070 for M-W to add similar meanings for otaku, anorak or trainspotter. The OED is so much hipper. Shame.
Digging the namecheck for Baroness Orczy. I do love me some Scarlet Pimpernel.