Wørd of the week – Kidult
Sunday, September 24th, 2006kidult (ki.DULT or KID.ult) n.
A middle-aged person who continues to participate in and enjoy youth culture. -adj. Relating to something, particularly a form of media, that appeals to both children and adults.
Example Citation:
'Adult toys' may sound like a risque phrase, but it is also used to describe the playthings that 'kidults' (those of us who never quite grew up) have been buying in increasing numbers.
-Celia Walden, "Trigger happy," Mail On Sunday, January 13, 2002
Earliest Citation:
And in the background, on a much less lavish scale, is LBS communications, which doesn't own its own stations but provides a lucrative stream of 'kidult' - children, teenager and young adult - programming to independents.
-Peter Martin, "Coming Soon: TV's New Boy Network," The Times, August 11, 1985
Notes:
This blend of kid and adult was made semi-famous (in some circles, anyway) last year with the release of a CD titled "Kidults," by Mandy Patinkin. (For some reason, imparting that information makes me want to heave a great sigh.)
The eclectic ramblings from the semi-charmed life of a slightly cranky 40-something peripatetic Australian fag with delusions of normalcy.