phud

English

Etymology

From humorously mispronouncing PhD as an acronym.

Noun

phud (plural phuds)

1. (slang, sometimes derogatory) A Doctor of Philosophy (a PhD degree).
   • 1983, Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact:

     The only reason for there being a second class of scientists is that the chances are good they'll spend their whole lives studying and never get a phud.

   • 1993, Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association:

     Gene has had a full career as most of us know: 32 years at the University of Wisconsin, where beside teaching medical entomology he's been major professor for 25 Phuds and 9 Masters.

   • 2012, Peter Bowen, Ash Child, Open Road Media, →ISBN:

     To get one of those you have to grovel and cringe and beg several folks already got their Phuds. Folks who has got Phuds don't like the thought of there being a glut of Phuds.

2. (slang, sometimes derogatory) A holder of a PhD degree, especially one in academia or seen as out of touch.
   • 1974, The Atlantic Monthly:

     "He's a phud," Ash said, using the term of derision applied by Harvard Business School types for persons with advanced academic degrees.

   • 2011, Shalom Camenietzki, Nine Ninety Nine, Strategic Book Publishing, →ISBN, page 32:

     The phuds, she said proudly, had written a book together, Ward M: The Behavioral Management Of Chronic Schizophrenia.

   • 2021, Scott Wozniak, Scott the Woz:

     "I don't have a PhD," claimed Jerry Attricks, "They forgot the U." "You have PhuD?" questioned Scott, just as Dr. Attricks confirmed, "I have PhuD."