Definitions

beatnik

 Play beat·nik
a member of a group of young persons, esp. of the 1950s, rebelling against conventional attitudes, dress, speech, etc., largely as an expression of social disillusionment

Origin of beatnik

beat, adjective + -nik


beatnik

noun

A person, especially a member or follower of the Beat Generation, whose behavior, views, and often style of dress are pointedly unconventional.

Origin of beatnik

Beat (Generation) -nik


beatnik

Noun

(plural beatniks)

  1. A person who dresses in a manner that is not socially acceptable and whose manner of dress reflects a rejection of conventional norms of thought and behavior; nonconformist in dress and behavior
  2. A person associated with the Beat Generation of the 1950s and 1960s or its style.
Origin

Coined by San Francisco columnist Herb Caen in 1958. From beat (generation) + cutesy or ironic use of the Russian suffix -ник (-nik). This suffix experienced a surge in English coinages for nicknames and diminutives after the 1957 Soviet launch of the Sputnik satellite. Compare jazznik.


Synonyms

 
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  • beatnik

Related


  • 1950s Slang
  • Beat Slang 1950s

    Also Mentioned In


    • beatniks
    • beatnikery
    • beatnikism
    • bitnik
    • bootnik
    • jazznik
    • neatnik
    • fly-ball
    • nik
    • hipster

    Words near beatnik in the dictionary


    • beatley
    • beatmaker
    • beatmakers
    • beatmatching
    • beatnik
    • beatnikery
    • beatnikism
    • beatniks
    • beaton
    • Beaton Cecil Walter Hardy

    Synonyms

    » more...

    • Bohemian
    • beat
    • maverick
    • radical

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