willie dee’s

origin: not exactly known

defined: a stictly local slang term used in the greater charleston (sc) and tri-county area (charleston, berkely, and dorchester) in reference to nike air force one’s. not even other south carolinians use the term “willie dees” to discribe their nike air force ones. i repeat, this is a extremely local use of terminology!

most other south carolinians and non-south carolinians alike find out and learn about this term while overhearing a conversation about air force one’s by two or more tri-county residence or by hanging with a charlestonian–allowing them to slowly digest this and other slang used in this city. this -ssimilation, or at bear minimum, understanding of the charleston slang and unique dialect usually takes place on a college campus. especially historically black colleges and universities in south carolina.
used just as one would to describe air force ones with any other slang terms -ssociated with these popular sneakers(a1s, 1s, af1s, forces)!

ex: eh, boi…you kno’ dem new willie dee’s droppin’ next week, ennit?

translation: hey boy, you are aware that those new nike air force ones are coming out next week, right?

“you call ’em air force ones/ we call ’em willie dee’s”
–carolina pathfinders

also known in charleston area as: wills, w-ll–s (alternate spelling: w-llys) or/and dee’s (alternate spelling: dees)!