Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun slang An act of putting a person in a headlock and rubbing one's knuckles on the other person's head, often a playful gesture of affection when done lightly.
  • verb slang To perform a noogie on.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Unknown, possibly from Yiddish נודזשען (nudzhen, "to badger"), or possibly via an alteration of nudge, matching the alteration of wedge to wedgie.

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Examples

  • Everyone has seen the sitcoms where the older brother gives the younger brother a friendly punch in the arm once in a while, or a "noogie" here and there.

    Celebrating the Pity Of Brotherly Love 2007

  • It's funny, the full name of Mesa Amplifiers contains a second name that rhymes with 'noogie' but my comment was initially denied for questionable content.

    above the fruited plain 2007

  • They still hug me, even, though most of those end with a "noogie" or a wrestling move.

    Marshall Democrat-News Headlines 2009

  • Neither, however, should one use such a messy option without first escalating gradually through less severe options like the "noogie," the "pantsing," and "wet willy."

    Asymmetric 2009

  • They still hug me, even, though most of those end with a "noogie" or a wrestling move.

    Marshall Democrat-News Headlines 2009

  • He greeted Jili with a hug, Ben with a noogie, and Cyn with a chivalrous kiss on the back of her hand.

    Parents Behaving Badly Scott Gummer 2011

  • He greeted Jili with a hug, Ben with a noogie, and Cyn with a chivalrous kiss on the back of her hand.

    Parents Behaving Badly Scott Gummer 2011

  • Amid the references to bullying and superficial values—"a noogie on the head til your face is turning red," sings one kid, "I don't worry, I don't care, I'm gonna marry a millionaire," says another—the heroine learns not to judge by appearances.

    The Short List: Philip Glass Festival 2012

  • This causes Bruce to give Silver a noogie and Aquaman to quip ‘so the ghoul’s got a girlfriend.

    [REVIEW] Batman: The Widening Gyre #1-3 « Giant Killer Squid - Film, Comics, News, Reviews and more 2010

  • Hammond launched one more shot at Jonah, and Todd gave my brother a world-class noogie as we walked out.

    She’s So Dead to Us Kieran Scott 2010

Comments

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  • I first came across the word 'noogie' as used by the character Neal Page played by Steve Martin in the 1987 film 'Trains, planes and automobiles'. The quote (from IBDB) is in a scene with Neal's wife Susan and his kids at their home:

    Marti Page: Mom, is Grandpa Walter going to give me noogies?

    Susan Page: Of course he's going to give you noogies. He loves giving you noogies. That's how he tells you he loves you.

    Little Neal Page: Why doesn't he give me noogies?

    Susan Page: Because you get Indian burns.

    Little Neal Page: But I prefer noogies.

    For years, I really wasn't sure what noogies were.

    April 19, 2011

  • Here is the Wiki definition of 'noogies'

    An act of putting a person in a headlock and rubbing one's knuckles on the other person's head, often a playful gesture of affection when done lightly; To perform a noogie on

    en.wiktionary.org/wiki/noogie

    April 19, 2011

  • When I was at school we called this a donkey scrub.

    April 19, 2011