ˈgran(d-)daddy
[See prec.]
1. a. = grand-dad.
| 1769 F. Burney Early Diary (1889) I. 41 My Grand-Daddy is here to-night, to the very great satisfaction of us all. |
b. fig. Also used colloq. with of to designate something large, notable, etc., of its kind. Cf. father n. 1 h.
| 1956 Amer. Speech XXXI. 255 This [sc. a spoonerism by a radio announcer] is known as the ‘grandaddy’ of all bloopers. 1960 Woman's Own 23 July 54/4 That young fellow is going to have the granddaddy of all headaches for about a week. 1961 M. Beadle These Ruins are Inhabited (1963) xi. 156 The granddaddy of all electrical storms dumped a cloudburst. 1965 R. & D. Morris Men & Snakes vi. 132 The mythical Serpent of Midgard has been described as the grand-daddy of all sea-serpents. 1968 New Yorker 18 May 60 I've had some granddaddies of hangups. |
2. transf. Also gran(d-)daddy-longlegs = daddy-long-legs b.
| 1808 A. Wilson Let. in Poems & Lit. Prose (1876) I. Pref. 6 A species of Acaris, vulgarly called Longlegs, Grandady, [etc.]. 1875 ‘Mark Twain’ Sk. New & Old 130 The learned and aged Lord Grand-Daddy-Longlegs..had been sitting in deep study, with his slender limbs crossed. 1890 W. D. Howells Boy's Town 201 You must not kill a granddaddy-long-legs, or a lady-bug, it was bad luck. 1907 Dialect Notes III. 188 Don't kill that grandaddy-long-legs; he won't hurt you. |