Origins of Cowabunga

[Samurai Usagi]

cow⋅a⋅bun⋅ga - [kou-uh-buhng-guh]

–interjection
(a yell of exhilaration, mainly used by surfers.)

1954, Amer.Eng., from exclamation of surprise and anger by Chief Thunderthud in "The Howdy Doody Show," 1950s children's TV show; used by surfers 1960s as a shout of triumph, and spread worldwide 1990 by use in the TV cartoon "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."


Main Entry: cowabunga
Part of Speech: interj
Definition: an exclamation of delight or satisfaction
Etymology: from Chief Thunderthud on the Howdy Doody Show

[Type 97 Chi-ha]

I remember an article about that word in the Chicago Tribune many years ago, and it mentions what you said. But in addition, the writer said that on The Simpsons, Bart reportedly never used that word, but rather said "Aye, Carumba", and it got misinterpreted. The article said that it got into the 1987 Turtles cartoon show via the Peanuts comic, which once showed Snoopy surfing and saying that word in a thought balloon.

[sdp]

In one of the commentaries in the Simpsons DVD seasons Matt Groening mentions how he used to see all these merchandising with Bart saying Cowabunga but that Bart had never said that in the show ever so they decided to make him say it in one episode.


Kinda funny I do remember seeing Bart saying Cowabunga on a bunch of stuff as a kid yet he only said it way later in the series because of it.

[cup-mikey-gertha]

I think I do remember Bart saying "Aye, Carumba", but not "Cowabunga".