humorous 1756 from fun y 2 meaning strange odd is 1806 said to be originally us southern the two senses of the word led to the retort question funny haha or funny peculiar which is attested from 1916 related funnier funniest funny farm mental hospital is slang from 1962 funny bone elbow end of the humerus is 1826 funnies newspaper comic strips is from 1852.