Is “dude” a Name for an Elephant’s Infected Hair?

The official meaning of the word “dude” is not an infected hair on an elephant’s butt. This particular meaning of “dude” is used as a slang word, and it is mostly passed on as a myth or urban legend.

The word “dude” comes from New York City slang. It originally meant a man who cared a lot about how he looked, how he dressed, and how he treated other people. Most of the time, “dude” is just a way to talk to a man, a woman, or a group of people in general. In western U.S. slang, it can also mean a city person who has come to a ranch to spend their vacation.