My friend Stefan Hagemann clued me in to the origin of bazooka, which was the name of a musical instrument of sorts before it became the name of a weapon. Bob Burns, who created the instrument in the early 1900s, explains in this WWII-era short film.
As for Bazooka Joe, he and his gang postdate the war. (The weirdest comics ever.)
Thanks, Stefan!
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Word of the day: bazooka
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The etymology seems to be sufficiently well established but I wonder whether the name was also influenced by the Greek (and now Irish) instrument known as the bouzouki.
In my childhood, I lived in a rural part of Maryland (no street address, just a route number [R.F.D.], which is part of the district now represented by Jamie Raskin), and on a rare Saturday, my father would drive us into town (Frederick) for haircuts. At the end the barber, Clifford Saville, would give us Bazooka Bubblegum, with the little comic. It was always a thrill, not to mention about the only opportunity to get gum. No candy stores in my neck of the woods.
A bouzouki-bazooka connection would be a remarkable thing to discover. I didn’t go beyond thinking of the kazoo.
I can’t recall haircuts coming with treats, but our shoe store always gave Archie comics. You take what you can get. : )
https://digital.grpl.org/Detail/objects/120881
The people’s instrument! Thanks, reader.
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