bougie

See also Bougie

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: bo͞oʹzhē, IPA: /ˈbuːʒi/, SAMPA: /"bu:Zi/

Etymology 1

After the Algerian city Bougie, and the tapered, hand-dipped candles it made. Compare French bougie (“candle”).

Noun

bougie (plural bougies)

1. (medicine) A tapered cylindrical instrument for introducing an object into a tubular anatomical structure, or to dilate such a structure, as with an esophageal bougie.

Etymology 2

From bourgeoisie; compare bourgie.

Adjective

bougie (comparative more bougie, superlative most bougie)

1. (chiefly African American Vernacular, slang, sometimes pejorative) Acting as if one is of a higher social status than one is; suspicions regarding true roots and background are implied.

   2007, Satire pervades the series of fictional magazine covers , L. Kent Wolgamott, The Lincoln Journal Star, October 12, 2007, [1]:

   Called “bougie” when she was growing up, even though she’d never considered herself close to that, Ewing has turned the word around, using it as the title of a fictitious magazine she has dreamed up.

   2007, "Glamorous" by Fergie:

   I'll be on the movie screens

   Magazines and bougie scenes

   I'm not clean, I'm not pristine

   I'm no queen, I'm no machine

   2010, RuPaul's Drag Race, Season 2, Episode 1, Gone With the Window, airdate February 1, 2010:

   Shangela is kind of bougie, but she's also your homegirl.

   2010, "Sleazy" by Ke$ha:

   I don't need you or your brand new Benz

   Or your bougie friends

   I don't need love lookin' like diamonds

   Lookin' like diamonds

Synonyms

• chichi

Related terms

• bourgie

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French

Etymology

From Bougie, the French name for the Algerian town of Béjaïa (Arabic بجاية), formerly known for exporting candles.

Pronunciation

• audio

  (file)

• IPA: /buʒi/, SAMPA: /buZi/

Noun

bougie f. (plural bougies)

1. candle
2. spark plug