Dun

   , "DUN HIM"

   When it comes to the origin of the word dun, most dictionaries play it safe and mark it obscure. They are wise because etymologists have disagreed for years over which of two plausible theories is the right one. According to some word historians, dun, in the sense of importuning debtors for payment, was derived from Anglo-Saxon dunan, "to din or clamor." The thinking here is that a bill collector is bound to get into an argument with the debtor, with much resulting noise. Hence to din or dinning. Samuel Johnson said the word was derived from Saxon donon, signifying "to clamor."

   The theory with greater support and more logic, however, is that Joseph Dunn, a famous bailiff of the town of Lincoln, England, was such a relentless bill collector that he became a legend. In fact, so many stories were published about him that his name entered the English language as a generic term. The British Apollo in 1708 wrote on the word dun as follows; "The word Dun owes its birth to one Joe Dun. ... It became a proverb . . . when a man refused to pay his debts, why don't you Dun him? That is, why don't you send Dun to arrest him? It is now as old as since the days of King Henry the Seventh" (who reigned 1485-1509).

   It's common today instead of saying "to make him pay up," to say simply, "dun him."