Joe Schmoe
English
Alternative forms
- Joe Schmo, Joe Shmo, Joe Shmoe
Etymology
From Joe (as in average Joe) and diminishing shm-reduplication, schm- + Joe. Schmoe (and alternate spellings) are thought by some linguists to be a clipping of schmuck, but this is not universally accepted.
Proper noun
Joe Schmoe
- (US, informal, derogatory or humorous) The typical, everyday person who does not have any special status, frequently in contrast to some group.
References
- Feinsilver, Lillian Mermin, 1956, Schmo, Schmog, and Schnook, American Speech, Duke UP, Vol. 31 No. 3, pages 236-237.
- (etymology) schmuck, Oxford English Dictionary, 1989, Oxford University Press
- (etymology) Gold, David L., 1988, Review of Yiddish and English: A Century of Yiddish in America by Sol Steinmetz, American Speech, Duke UP, Vol. 63 No. 3, page 276.