also doozie, 1903 (adj.), 1916 (n.), perhaps an alteration of daisy, or from popular It. actress Eleonora Duse (1859-1924). In either case, reinforced by Duesenberg, expensive, classy make of automobile 1920s-30s.
n. something extraordinary, good or bad. : The trade show was a real doozy this year.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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