Smokey Bear

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See also: smokey bear

English

Smokey Bear

Alternative forms

Etymology

From an ad campaign first introduced in 1944 by Foote, Cone and Belding in cooperation with the Forest Service and the Ad Council. The name was was inspired by “Smokey” Joe Martin, a New York City Fire Department hero who suffered burns and blindness during a bold 1922 rescue. (Later, in 1950, an actual burned black bear cub was named Smokey and took on this symbolic role.)

Proper noun

Smokey Bear

  1. A fictional bear dressed as a ranger who acts as a symbol of forest fire prevention, with the slogan "Only you can prevent forest fires."
    • 1995, United States Forest Service Washington Office, Forest Service video library catalog, page 14:
      1994 marks the 50th anniversary of Smokey Bear, the world renowned symbol of forest fire prevention.
    • 2009, Jon Nelson, Quetico: Near to Nature's Heart, →ISBN, page 209:
      Bambi was released in 1942, and two years later the Smokey Bear campaign to reduce forest fires began.
    • 2009, John Robert Weir, Conducting Prescribed Fires: A Comprehensive Manual, →ISBN, page 22:
      Smokey Bear is a perfect example of how an advertising campaign can impact the public's perception of fire.

Noun

Smokey Bear (plural Smokey Bears)

  1. A policeman, especially a highway patrol officer.
    • 1977, Live Steam - Volume 11, page 12:
      There are laws on the books now, and the Smokey Bears Afloat are enforcing them.
    • 2003, Robert E. D. Woolsey, Richard Lovell Hewitt, Real World Operations Research: The Woolsey Papers, page 87:
      Stan allowed as how last month that the driver, Joe Bob, had "punched out a Smokey Bear in that county and so for the next month or so we need to route him around DeKalb county as the Smokey Bears were still a-swarmin and looking for him."
    • 2004, Jackie Paxton, Lost in the 70s, →ISBN, page 75:
      We were moving along at a fast clip, when Henson yelled, "Slow down, I see some blue lights flashing. Smokey Bear has got somebody!"
  2. A ranger or park service employee that deals with the public.
    • 1967, The Mountaineer, page 14:
      The Forest Service PR campaign now in high gear. Smokey Bears all over the place, giving talks to Rotary, Kiwanis, Chamber, Junior Chamber, Legion, hunters, fishermen, Grange, ...
    • 1980, National Parks & Conservation Magazine, page 1:
      Apparently a fellow running a trapline accidentally caught a marten, which is still a protected species though slowly increasing in numbers. The marten was turned over to the Smokey Bears so that, at least, it could be stuffed and displayed in the Voyageurs Park museum.
    • 2013, Nevada Barr, The Rope, →ISBN:
      God damn stupid fucking green-and-gray Smokey Bears. Rangers. Telling John Q. Public not to litter and to be sure and hold hands with your buddy on the scary paths.
  3. A firefighter.
    • 1976, Gary M. Smith, Windsinger, →ISBN, page 100:
      Having fought many fires in the States, I sure didn't envy future Smokey Bears in that terrain.
    • 1998, Eric Nelson, The Mall of America: Reflections of a Virtual Community, →ISBN, page 209:
      Well, it turns out the Smokey Bears were right after all. What appeared to be a disaster has turned out to be not only a boon to the land but a boost to tourism, because the dramatic traces of fire added to its natural beauty.
    • 2001, Sarah Mlynowski, Milkrun, page 95:
      "Hi, boys!" Amber squeals to the other firemen, saving me. All the Smokey Bears hoot hello.
  4. A campaign hat.
    • 1989, J. Edward Ames, Spellcaster, →ISBN, page 160:
      There were two of them— a man and a woman wearing neat Smokey Bears.
    • 2011, Robert Buettner, Orphanage: Jason Wander series - Book 1, →ISBN:
      They swaggered around in their Smokey Bears, as if a felt hat would intimidate a short-fused grenade.
    • 2013, Glenn Starkey, Amazon Moon, →ISBN, page 36:
      He stood with feet splayed, fists resting on his hips as he stared at us from beneath the brim of his Smokey Bear.
    • 2014, Charles Stronge, Sniper in Action: History, Equipment, Techniques, →ISBN:
      A few minutes later, I saw two old gunnery sergeants sashaying towards us, wearing shooting jackets and campaign hats! As soon as I saw these Smokey Bears bobbing over to us, I figured this could be some show.
  5. (military slang) An aircraft used to drop defoliants in the Vietnam War.
    • 1966, The Conservationist - Volumes 21-22, page 34:
      No Smokey Bears: You can't shoot something you can't see. The Air Force in Viet Nam has special teams that blast away tree leaves and other shrubbery beside canals that offer hiding places for the Viet Cong. The motto of these defoliation teams: "Only you can prevent forests."
    • 2007, America, History and Life - Volume 44, Issue 3, page 660:
      Aircraft used to spread Agent Orange and other defoliants were known as Smokey Bears.
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