DCHP-2
zombie Slang, Derog., Hist. DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
THIS ENTRY MAY CONTAIN OUTDATED INFORMATION, TERMS and EXAMPLES
1 n.
See quotes.
- 1949 "Didn't I volunteer in the war? I wasn't a zombie. . . ."
- 1953 In October [1940], the first men were drafted for service under the N[ational] R[esources] M[obilization] A[ct]. Contemptuously referred to as "zombies," they were never taken seriously by the military authorities, and when, later on, they were needed overseas, they were found to be inadequately trained.
- 1963 . . . a nasty distinction arose between the volunteers for service overseas and the conscripts for home defence, who were given the pungent nickname of "zombies," a West Indian word for impotent spirits.
2 n.
a person who was not in the armed services.
- 1953 (1958) "I lent my [golf] clubs to some zombie when I went to war and heaven knows where they are now."
- 1949 "Didn't I volunteer in the war? I wasn't a zombie. . . ."