wowser Meaning & Definition
What Does Wowser Mean?
Wowser is a noun that means an obtrusively puritanical person.
Word Facts for Wowser
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈwau̇-zər/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | bluenose, moralist and Mrs. Grundy |
| Antonyms | immoralist, libertarian and libertine |
| Plural | wowsers |
| First known use | 1899 |
Wowser Definition (Noun)
- an obtrusively puritanical person
Synonyms of Wowser
Wowser synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Wowser
Wowser in a Sentence
wowsers would be well-advised to avoid that steamy new show on TV
Word Forms & Grammar
wowser
wowsers
wowser (plural wowsers)
Words That Rhyme With Wowser
Origin of Wowser
Origin 1: origin unknown
Origin 2: From UK dialect. Australian from late 1890s.
Origin 3: John Norton, an early enemy of wowsers, claimed it to be an acronym for "We Only Want Social Evils Remedied", but that is likely a folk etymology.
Origin 4: A story has it that gospellers in the streets of Clunes, Victoria in the 1870s were called rousers but one of the town councillors had a speech impediment and couldn't pronounce his "R"s, thus giving wowser. (Reference: Bill Wannan, Australian Folklore, Lansdowne Press, 1970, reprint 1979 →ISBN, under "Wowser", page 568.)
Origin 5: Unknown.
First Known Use
1899
How Do You Say Wowser?
The standard pronunciation of wowser is /ˈwau̇-zər/, spoken in 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (wau̇).
Common Questions About Wowser
What part of speech is wowser?
Wowser is a noun.
What is another word for wowser?
Words with a similar meaning to wowser include bluenose, moralist and Mrs. Grundy. See the full list of wowser synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of wowser?
Words opposite in meaning to wowser are immoralist, libertarian, libertine and misbehaver.
What is the plural of wowser?
The plural of wowser is wowsers.