beatnik
The origin and history of beatnik.
Etymology
Coined in 1958 by columnist Herb Caen, blending "beat" (as in Beat Generation) with the Russian-derived suffix "-nik" — the same suffix popularised by "Sputnik."
Class of 1958
beatnik first entered the language around 1958. Other words from the same year:
See the full Class of 1958 →