A “Gothamist” is an inhabitant of Gotham, a town in Nottinghamshire, England. “Gotham” was applied to New York City by Washington Irving and others in Salmagundi; or The Whim-whams and Opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, Esq. & Others (1807). “Gothamist” (cited in print since at least 1589) has been rarely applied to New Yorkers; Salmagundi used the term “Gothamite.”
The New York City current events blog Gothamist has a trademark date of February 13, 2003.
Wikipedia: Salmagundi (periodical)
Salmagundi; or The Whim-whams and Opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, Esq. & Others, commonly referred to as Salmagundi, was a 19th century satirical periodical created and written by American writer Washington Irving. Written in collaboration with Irving’s oldest brother, William, and James Kirke Paulding, Irving produced twenty issues at irregular intervals between January 24, 1807 and January 15, 1808.
Salmagundi lampooned New York culture and politics in a manner much like today’s Mad magazine. It was in the November 11, 1807 issue that Irving first attached the name “Gotham” to New York City.
Wikipedia: Gothamist
Gothamist LLC is the operator (or in some cases franchisor) of eleven city-centric blogs worldwide that focus on news, events, food, culture, and other local coverage.
History
The namesake blog, Gothamist, focused on New York City, was founded in 2003, with launches in other cities shortly thereafter. Other blogs operated by the company as of July 2011 include LAist, Bostonist, DCist, Chicagoist, SFist, Austinist, and Seattlest in the United States, as well as Shanghaiist internationally.
Wikipedia: Adjectivals and demonyms for cities
New York New Yorkers (“Gothamites”/“Knickerbockers”)
• The Bronx Bronxites, Bronxers
• Brooklyn Brooklynites (archaic: “Trolley Dodgers”)
• Manhattan Manhattanites
• Queens Queensites
• Staten Island Staten Islanders
(Oxford English Dictionary)
Gothamist n. Obs. one who takes after the men of Gotham; a blunderer, a simpleton.
1589 T. Nashe To Students in R. Greene Menaphon Epist. sig. **2, The‥perusing of our Gothamists barbarisme.
1660 T. M. Walker’s Hist. Independency IV. 78 The Officers of the Army‥a mad crew of Gotamists.
Google Books
Johnson’s English Dictionary
By Samuel Johnson
Philadelphia, PA: Thomas
1846
Pg. 434:
GOTHAMIST n. [from the old saying, “As wise as a man of Gotham;” a place in Nottinghamshire, formerly noted for some pleasant blunders.] One who is not wise. Bp. Morton.
Google Books
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia;
A work of universal reference in all departments of knowledge, with a new atlas of the world
Edited by William Dwight Whitney and Benjamin E. Smith
New York, NY: Century Co.
1897
Pg. 2582:
Gothamist n. [< Gotham in Nottinghamshire, England, + -ist. The village of Gotham became proverbial for the blundering simplicity of its inhabitants (“the wise men of Gotham”), of which many ludicrous stories were told.] A simple-minded person; a simpleton. See the etymology.
Gothamite n. [<
Gotham + -ite.] An inhabitant of Gotham in England, and, by transfer, of the city of New York, to which the name was humorously applied in allusion to the stories of “the wise men of Gotham.” See Gothamist. [The term was first used by Washington Irving in “Salmagundi,” 1807.]
(Trademark)
Word Mark GOTHAMIST
Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Providing news in the nature of current event reporting. FIRST USE: 20030213. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20041201
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 78725491
Filing Date October 3, 2005
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition June 6, 2006
Registration Number 3135888
Registration Date August 29, 2006
Owner (REGISTRANT) Gothamist LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY NEW YORK P.O. Box #510 New York NEW YORK 10012
Attorney of Record Joshua R. Bressler
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