number represented by 1 followed by 100 zeroes, 1940, in "Mathematics and the Imagination," a layman's book on mathematics written by U.S. mathematicians Edward Kasner (1878-1955) and James R. Newman, the word supposedly coined a year or two before by Kasner's 9- (or 8-) year-old nephew (unnamed in the book's account of the event), when asked for a name for an enormous number. Perhaps influenced by comic strip character Barney Google. Googolplex (10 to the power of a googol) coined at the same time, in the same way, with -plex.

"lavatory," 1940, but perhaps 1922 (based on a pun of Joyce's); perhaps [Dictionary of American Slang] from French lieux d'aisances "lavatory," literally "place of ease," picked up by British servicemen in France during World War I. Or possibly a pun on Waterloo, based on water closet.

"informal session of folk musicians," 1940, American English, earlier "a gadget" (1927), of unknown origin, perhaps a nonsense word.

Another device used by the professional car thief, and one recently developed to perfection, according to a large Chicago lock-testing laboratory, is a "hootenanny," so-called by the criminals using it. [Popular Mechanics, February 1931]

1940, from of German Panzerdivision "armored unit," from Panzer "tank," literally "armor," from Middle High German panzier, from Old French panciere "armor for the belly," from pance "belly, stomach," from Latin pantex (genitive panticis) "belly" (see paunch).

"national traitor," especially during World War II in Nazi-occupied countries, "collaborationist," 1940, from Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945), Norwegian fascist politician who headed the puppet government during the German occupation of Norway in World War II; shot for treason after the German defeat. First used in London Times of April 15, 1940, in a Swedish context.

in reference to collaborationist government of France, 1940, from the name of the city in department of Allier in central France, famous for mineral springs (Vichy-water is attested in English by 1858). It was seat 1940-44 of the French government formed under Nazi occupation and headed by Pétain. The place name is of uncertain origin.

"German POW camp," 1940, from German Stalag, short for stammlager "main camp," from Old High German stam "stem" (from Proto-Germanic *stamniz, from suffixed form of PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm") + Lager "bed, lair, camp, storehouse," from Old High German legar "bed, lair," from Proto-Germanic *legraz, from PIE root *legh- "to lie down, lay."

1940, from check (v.1) + point (n.). Originally an aviator's term for landforms or structures of known height against which the craft's altitude could be visually checked. The "place where travelers are stopped and subject to security checks" sense is recorded from 1950.

"person with a powerful, compact body build," 1940, from mesoderm + -morph, from Greek morphe "form, shape; beauty, outward appearance," a word of uncertain etymology. Coined by American psychologist William H. Sheldon (1898-1977); the reference is to the mesodermal layer of the embryo, from which physical structures develop. Related: Mesomorphic (attested from 1923 in chemistry, a separate coinage in reference to a state of a liquid crystal).

"person with a slim physique and an introverted, thoughtful personality," 1940, coined by American psychologist William H. Sheldon from ectoderm + -morph, from Greek morphē "form, shape; beauty, outward appearance," a word of uncertain etymology. So called for the embryonic ectoderm, which develops the nervous system. Related: Ectomorphic.