Origin of Paparazzi

[Suby Wallace <swallace@NIC.CRSC.K12.AR.US>]

Another teacher and I have been discussing the word "paparazzi".  The only
unabridged dictionary I have is the 2nd edition of Random House.

It states that the word first appeared in "LaDolce Vita" by Fellini (1959).
There was such a photographer in the movie, and he gave him the surname
Paparazzo or Paparazzi (-o is the singular term, -i is the plural.  Not sure
which spelling the name had in the movie).  Fellini got the name from a book
he was reading at the time of the movie's production, _By the Ionian Sea_ by
George Gissing.  (It was the name of the hotelkeeper in the book.)

The Random House dictionary has dates in brackets which indicate the time
around which the word first appeared in print.  The dates given are 1965-70,
which would cooincide with the Jackie Kennedy Onassis problem with the
photographer who harrassed her.  That's when I first remember hearing the word.

Here's the question.  Do any of you who have Webster's 2nd or any other
unabridged dictionaries mind looking it up?  We're curious about whether
there is any word etymology on this word, since it was coined from a proper
name.  Does the papa- come from "father"?  Could it be from papyrus?  Paper?
What does the -razzi suffix mean?  Has anyone read the book or seen the
movie?  Why did he take the name from the hotelkeeper and give it to the
photographer?  Was he a voyeur?  Nosy?

Thanks for your help.  I'll let you know what we find out, if you're
interested.  This is a question of curiosity more than anything.  Thanks for
your time, too!





Suby Wallace         swallace@nic.crsc.k12.ar.us
Nettleton Intermediate Center  fax: 501-930-3930
   (5-6 grades)               phone: 501-932-5650
3801 Vera                (area code changing to 870 in
Jonesboro, AR 72401                     April)


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