whammy

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The Word of the Day for April 1 is: 

whammy   \WAM-ee\   noun
     1 a : a supernatural power bringing bad luck  b : a magic curse or spell : 
jinx, hex
    *2 : a potent force or attack; specifically : a paralyzing or lethal blow

Example sentence:
     "The nation's working poor have been hit by another whammy," said the 
senator, referring to a recent tax hike.

Did you know?
     The origin of "whammy" is not entirely certain, but it is assumed to have 
been created by combining "wham" ("a solid blow") with the whimsical "-y" 
ending. The first example of "whammy" in print occured in 1940, but the word 
was popularized in the 1950s by the cartoonist Al Capp in the comic strip "Li'l 
Abner." The character Evil-Eye Fleegle could paralyze someone with the sheer 
power of his gaze. The "single whammy" was a look with one eye, and the 
fearsome "double whammy" used both eyes. As you may know, "double whammy" has 
also found a place in English as a general term. It means "a combination of two 
adverse forces, circumstances, or effects" -- in other words, a one-two punch.

*Indicates the sense illustrated by the example sentence. 





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