whassan.
/ˈhwɒsə/ colloquial or nonstandard.
‘What is the’ (matter, etc.). Cf. what'sa matter n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > making inquiries [phrase]
how so?a1375
what, how seemeth you?1485
what reck?a1513
what is the matter?c1520
what about ——1662
what's the row?1810
how come?1848
whassa1906
since when?1907
what'sa matter1935
1906 E. Nesbit Railway Children ii. 28 Roberta woke Phyllis... ‘Wassermarrer?’ asked Phyllis.
1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §256/14 What's the matter?..wha'sa mat?, wha'sa matter?..wazzo maro?
1951 C. M. Kornbluth Marching Morons in Best of C. M. Kornbluth (1977) 156 ‘Wassamatter?’ snorted her husband.
1967 ‘W. Wright’ Shadows don't Bleed v. 84 Whassa matter? You don' believe me?
1973 J. Drummond Bang! Bang! You're Dead! xxv. 86 ‘Wassermatter?’ ‘I want to join, is all.’
1978 M. Kenyon Deep Pocket ix. 102 ‘Whassa time?’ A quarter to three.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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n.1906