fantabulosa

English

Etymology

UK late-1950s. Probably from fantabulous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fæn.tæb.juːˈləʊ.sə/
• Rhymes: -əʊsə

Adjective

fantabulosa (comparative more fantabulosa, superlative most fantabulosa)

1. (Polari) Wonderful
   • 2015, Alex Howard, A Hard Woman to Kill (DCI Hanlon Series; 3):

     Next to her in the front seat her reluctant passenger grumbled. 'Well, this is all very nice. Fantabulosa I very much don't think.'

   • 2017 February 4, “Church 'regret' as trainees hold service in gay slang”, in BBC News‎^[1]:

     Instead of the traditional "Glory be to the father, and to the son, and the Holy Spirit" the prayer offered was: "Fabeness be to the Auntie, and to the Homie Chavvie, and to the Fantabulosa Fairy".

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:excellent (of the highest quality) and Thesaurus:wonderful (invoking awe and admiration)

References

• Baker, Paul (2003) “Appendix”, in Polari - The Lost Language of Gay Men, Routledge, →ISBN, page 174