Green’s Dictionary of Slang

momser n.

also momza, momzer, momzir
[Heb. mamzer, a bastard, adapted in Lat. and thus used throughout the Middle Ages. The modern use, however, is related to Yid., and imported by Jewish immigrants to US and UK]

a catch-all term implying everything from great affection to deep dislike.

Show quotations
[[US]Amer. Hebrew 22 Oct. 163/1: ‘Mamser tome’ (rascal) said Saloshitz with indignation].
[UK]Sporting Times 20 Mar. 3/3: ‘You’re wrong, old momzir,’ shouts another dayan.
[[UK] Binstead Houndsditch Day by Day 27: No, ye miserable momzie-bedniddah].
[UK]Sporting Times 3 Mar. 1/4: Accha Nebbish! the momzir’s owed me five times fifty since las’ Ascot.
[Aus]Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 16 Jan. 1/6: As an exhibition of slang-whanging [it] stands a record. ‘Momsers,’ ‘snorers,’ ‘nofghas,’ ‘echo-rums,’ flew around like hot fat out of a fish frying-pan.
[US]F. Hurst Humoresque 9: Take him! You should be proud of such a little momser for a son!
[US]S.J. Perelman in Marschall That Old Gang o’ Mine (1984) 81: ‘Look here, momzer,’ said old Judge Prouty.
[US]B. Schulberg What Makes Sammy Run? (1992) 188: Oh, you dumb son-of-a-bitch, you glutton for punishment, you momser you.
[US]B. Appel Tough Guy [ebook] ‘Momser—bastard!’ Ganzer cursed in Yiddish.
[US](con. 1950) E. Frankel Band of Brothers 122: Smuck, puhtz, momser, shtup . . . I keep learnin’, Mel, I’ll be talkin’ Jewish right good.
[US]S. Longstreet Flesh Peddlers (1964) 28: Let the momsers at the other offices sweat to make the big names. [Ibid.] 193: You lying momser.
[UK]R.L. Pike Mute Witness (1997) 70: If it wasn’t for that momser Chalmers I’d be calling you ‘Captain’ instead of the other way round.
[US]L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 197: There’s always momzas that ask about your wife.
[UK]N. Smith Gumshoe (1998) 119: The Scottish, Jewish hood from the dole, Straker. My Yiddisher momser.
[US]W. Kotzwinkle Midnight Examiner (1990) 13: The strapless brassiere people are reliable [...] But these other momsers ...
R.K. Tanenbaum Act of Revenge 144: Him and Heshy Panofsky, the momser, that was his partner. [...] He’s still a momser.
H.R. Goodman My Sister’s Wedding 16: The momser got in late and is a total mess. I can’t promise you he’s coming.