Etymology: Probably < the (reduplicated) syllable /da/ which is characteristic of early infantile vocalization (see dad n.¹). Compare earlier dad n.¹ and daddy n. Compare also earlier da-da int.

Etymology: < Hindi dādā (and its equivalent in related Indian languages) paternal grandfather, also (in broader application) grandfather, older brother, form of address for a male relative, ultimately < the (reduplicated) syllable /da/ which is characteristic of early infantile vocalization (see dad n.¹ and compare dada n.¹). Compare baba n.² and baba n.⁵

Etymology: < French Dada and German Dada, the name of the movement (both 1916: see note), ultimately < the (reduplicated) syllable /da/ which is characteristic of early infantile vocalization.The movement was founded in Zurich during the First World War by a group of international (and multilingual) artists, writers, and performers. The name first appeared in print in Cabaret Voltaire (1916): on page 5, in an editorial in German by Hugo Ball (dated 15 May) where it appears as the proposed title for a periodical review which was first published later in the same year, and on page 31, in a dialogue in French and German by Richard Huelsenbeck and Tristan Tzara. According to two accounts (both 1916) by Richard Huelsenbeck and Hugo Ball, two of the founders, the name was originally chosen at random from a dictionary, where the headword was French dada hobby horse, (in children's language) horse (1508 in Middle French, 1776 in figurative use); however, the word was adopted with conscious reference to the underlying syllables, perceived as ultimately meaningless.