Dun

Dun
   , "DUN HIM"
   When it comes to the origin of the word dun, most dictionaries play it safe and mark it obscure. They are wise because etymologists have disagreed for years over which of two plausible theories is the right one. According to some word historians, dun, in the sense of importuning debtors for payment, was derived from Anglo-Saxon dunan, "to din or clamor." The thinking here is that a bill collector is bound to get into an argument with the debtor, with much resulting noise. Hence to din or dinning. Samuel Johnson said the word was derived from Saxon donon, signifying "to clamor."
   The theory with greater support and more logic, however, is that Joseph Dunn, a famous bailiff of the town of Lincoln, England, was such a relentless bill collector that he became a legend. In fact, so many stories were published about him that his name entered the English language as a generic term. The British Apollo in 1708 wrote on the word dun as follows; "The word Dun owes its birth to one Joe Dun. ... It became a proverb . . . when a man refused to pay his debts, why don't you Dun him? That is, why don't you send Dun to arrest him? It is now as old as since the days of King Henry the Seventh" (who reigned 1485-1509).
   It's common today instead of saying "to make him pay up," to say simply, "dun him."

Dictionary of eponyms. . 2013.

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  • dun — dun·al; dun·bar·ton·shire; dun·can; dun·ci·cal; dun·ci·fy; dun; dun·das·ite; dun·dathu; dun·dee; dun·der·funk; dun·der·head; dun·der·head·ed; dun·der·pate; dun·drear·ies; dun·edin; dun·ga·ree; dun·ga run·ga; dun·ge·ness; dun·ka·doo; dun·ker;… …   English syllables

  • DUN — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. {{{image}}}   Sigles d une seule lettre   Sigles de deux lettres > Sigles de trois lettres …   Wikipédia en Français

  • dun — duñ interj. bum, du: Klausau – tik duñ, duñ, duñ dundina į duris Rdm. Girdi ragana su geležiniais klupsčiais stuk stuk stuk, dun dun dun TDrIV223(Kb). Dun dun duñ ratai kieman įdundėjo Š. Dun dun, dun dun [patrankos] dieną ir naktį, kad net… …   Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language

  • Dun —    DUN, a parish, in the county of Forfar, 4 miles (N. W. by W.) from Montrose; containing 581 inhabitants. This place by some antiquaries is supposed to have derived its name from the family of Dun, who were its ancient proprietors, and by… …   A Topographical dictionary of Scotland

  • Dun — Dun, a. [AS. dunn, of Celtic origin; cf. W. dwn, Ir. & Gael. donn.] Of a dark color; of a color partaking of a brown and black; of a dull brown color; swarthy. [1913 Webster] Summer s dun cloud comes thundering up. Pierpont. [1913 Webster] Chill… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dun — 〈Adj.; nddt.〉 = duhn * * * dun <Adj.> [aus dem Niederd. < mniederd. dun, urspr. = geschwollen] (landsch.): betrunken: d. sein. * * * Dün   der, bewaldeter Muschelkalkhöhenzug im Eichsfeld, Nordwestthüringen, östlich von Heilbad… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Dun — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda No debe confundirse con Dün. Dun País …   Wikipedia Español

  • dunđer — dùnđer (dùnđerin) m DEFINICIJA reg. graditelj, istovremeno drvodjelja, tesar i zidar; cimerman ONOMASTIKA pr. (prema zanimanju): Dùnđer (Slavonski Brod, Banovina, Primorje, Slavonija), Dùnđerović (Dunđérović) (Đakovo, Crikvenica), Dùnger (Dvor,… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • Dun — Dun, n. 1. One who duns; a dunner. [1913 Webster] To be pulled by the sleeve by some rascally dun. Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster] 2. An urgent request or demand of payment; as, he sent his debtor a dun. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dun — [dʌn] verb dunned PTandPPX dunning PRESPARTX [transitive] informal old fashioned to demand payment of an unpaid debt: • The IRS dunned the corporation for $6.3 million in back tax and penalties …   Financial and business terms

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