bagel, noun
- Forms:
- Also beigel, beygl.
- Origin:
- English, YiddishShow more Special sense of general English bagel, from Yiddish beygl, a hard, ring-shaped bread-roll.
A (usually derogatory) nickname given to a young Jewish man of the moneyed class who affects a distinctive nasal mode of speech and flashy dress. Cf. kugel. Also attributive.
[1957 D. Jacobson Price of Diamonds 51‘Not a gentleman at all,’ he called Gottlieb, and a beigel, a traitor.]
1989 M. Brand in Fair Lady 25 Oct. 93These buzz words have gone decidedly off. You run the risk of being mega-unfash if you use them..Amazing. Bagel. Camp..Kugel (borderline case) [etc.].
A (usually derogatory) nickname given to a young Jewish man of the moneyed class who affects a distinctive nasal mode of speech and flashy dress.