hepcat/ hep cat / hepster / hipster

Posted by futari on 2011/5/4 14:11:10

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a "hepcat" or "hep cat": [noun] slang term from the 1920's; jive talk

= a man who appreciates the right sort of music, leads a life of fashionable pleasure
= a stylish or fashionable person, esp. in the sphere of jazz or popular music
= a hepster/hipster; a hep person; a man-about-town

(The term "hep cat" originally referred to someone who used heroin and had contracted hepatitis. These people especially in the jazz music scene were considered to be in the know or cool, and since the guys were already "cats", they became "hep cats", same as "cool cats". In the 50's and 60's due to the "beat generation and hippy movement", it became "hip cats". So from the jazz era "that's hep" or "he's a hep cat", meaning a cool dude or in the know, to the 50's and 60's," hip cat" or "hip", again meaning a cool dude or in the know and living a liberal life style.)
<- http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_hepcat

(A possible supplementary origin from Wolof "hipicat" -- "man who is aware".)

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"hep": [adjective] underworld

An adjective taken up by jazz musicians to the extent of being identified with them.
= hip (cool; beatnik and far out)
= aware
= up-to-date
= with it

(Origin unknown; a 1914 source says it is based on the name of a fabulous detective who operated in Cincinnati.)

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"hip cat" or "hipcat": [noun phrase or noun]

= hepcat
= hipster
(= hip dude; hip chick -- an alert and up-to-date woman, especially in matters of popular culture, music, etc.)

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