moxie

See also: mòxiě and móxiě

English

Alternative forms

• moxy

Etymology

First recorded use in 1930. From the name of an American soft drink made since 1885 to which advertisement ascribed many beneficial properties directly but also indirectly by using the same name as a patent medicine first manufactured in 1878. Perhaps ultimately from Abenaki [Term?] (“dark water”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: mŏk'sē, IPA^(key): /ˈmɒksi/
• Rhymes: -ɒksi

Noun

moxie (uncountable) (US, informal)

1. Nerve, strength of character.

   Synonyms: spirit, backbone, determination, fortitude

2. Verve.

   Synonyms: vigor, pep, energy, initiative

   • 1971, John Updike, Rabbit Redux, page 401:

     As a girl she had speed and a knock-kneed moxie at athletics, and might have done more with it if she hadn't harvested all the glory already.
3. Wit, skill.

   Synonym: know-how

Usage notes

The origin of this word as the name of a popular product marketed as a cure-all may help to understand the logic behind the plurality of its similar meanings:

The meanings can be grouped into "cures" for the problems of feeling too weak in spirit, body, or mind; in other words, of being overwhelmed/helpless, exhausted/listless, or confused/perplexed.

Translations

spirit, courage, force of character

• Finnish: luonteenlujuus, selkäranka (fi)
• French: tripes (fr) f pl
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Japanese: どきょう, 度胸, こんじょう, 根性
• Spanish: espíritu (es) m

vigor, energy

• Finnish: puhti, pontevuus (fi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• German: Tatkraft f

wit, skill, know-how

• Finnish: taito (fi), taitavuus (fi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• Dutch: ^{(please verify)} vastberadenheid (nl), doortastenheid
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Anagrams

• oxime