In which cartoon (if any) did Bugs Bunny use the term "nimrod"? [closed]

In English, the term nimrod seems to have morphed sometime in the 20th century from meaning "mighty hunter" to meaning, roughly, "idiot" or "dipstick". The Internet knows that this is because of Bugs Bunny, in some Merrie Melodies cartoon, referring to Elmer Fudd as a "poor little Nimrod." [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Amazingly, the second meaning likely derived from the cartoon character Bugs Bunny. The wily rabbit used the term in its original sense to refer to his nemesis, the asinine hunter Elmer Fudd, whom he called a “poor little Nimrod.” Eventually, the name became more associated with the characteristics of the inept animated hunter than the great biblical warrior. [4]

But is this folk etymology actually true? Did Bugs Bunny ever refer to Elmer Fudd as a "poor little Nimrod", or any variation thereof, in any actual cartoon? (Title and year, please! Links to Merrie Melodies on DailyMotion may come in handy for verification.)

Best Answer

Elmer does get called "Nimrod". But...

According to IMDb, Elmer does get called "my little Nimrod"...

...by Daffy, in the 1948 short "What Makes Daffy Duck".

Elmer Fudd: How am I ever going to catch that scwewy duck?

Daffy Duck: Precisely what I was thinking, my little Nimrod.

Now granted this does not mean that this is the only instance where Elmer gets called this. I would take it as much more likely than not that the script writers re-used the insult for other shorts.

However... we may also be looking at an instance of The Mandela Effect. The chain of reasoning would then go like this...

I have seen a cartoon where Elmer Fudd gets called "nimrod".
Elmer was always hunting Bugs Bunny, I saw lots of such cartoons
Therefore: Bugs called Elmer "nimrod".

This will — of course — be invalidated the very second that someone shows an instance where Bugs too called Elmer "Nimrod". However, a Google search on "elmer fudd nimrod site:imdb.com" reveals no other instance than from "What Makes Daffy Duck (1948)".

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What word did Bugs Bunny change the meaning of?

Because of Bugs's popularity, the bunny's use of nimrod became, over time, the predominant version of the word\u2014so much so that, today, few people even know it is actually a Biblical reference. Bugs Bunny's reshaping of the meaning \u201cnimrod\u201d is a prime example of how life imitates art.

What did Bugs Bunny use to say?

The carrot-chewing scenes are generally followed by Bugs' most well-known catchphrase, "What's up, Doc?", which was written by director Tex Avery for his first Bugs Bunny film, A Wild Hare (1940). Avery explained later that it was a common expression in his native Texas and that he did not think much of the phrase.

What did Bugs Bunny call Elmer?

In 1940, however, everything about the word changed. It's widely reported that during a cartoon short titled \u201cA Wild Hare,\u201d a wise-cracking rabbit named Bugs Bunny called his nemesis Elmer Fudd a \u201cpoor little nimrod,\u201d a sarcastic reference to Fudd's skills as a hunter.

What is Bugs Bunny most famous line?

The cartoon character, Bugs Bunny is also known for his famous catchphrase, \u201cEhhh, What's up Doc?\u201d along with funny quotes and sayings.

Etymology of Nimrod and how Bugs Bunny changed our Language

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Kamaji Ogino, Pixabay, George Dolgikh @ Giftpundits.com, George Dolgikh @ Giftpundits.com