The OED defines bushwa as "Rubbish, nonsense," and for the etymology notes: "app. a euphemism for BULLSHIT." The latter is, I think, pretty obvious. There is no connection in either etymology, sense, or usage to "bourgeois." The OED cites examples dating back to the 1920s.
Comments by potosino
potosino commented on the word pergola
The pronunciation given for this word (as of 2 Jan 2010), / ˈpərgoʊklə, gjuklə /, cannot be right; specifically, the extraneous "k" sound.
January 3, 2010
potosino commented on the word perfectable
The standard spelling is perfectible.
December 26, 2009
potosino commented on the word bushwa
The OED defines bushwa as "Rubbish, nonsense," and for the etymology notes: "app. a euphemism for BULLSHIT." The latter is, I think, pretty obvious. There is no connection in either etymology, sense, or usage to "bourgeois." The OED cites examples dating back to the 1920s.
December 25, 2009