The Etymology of “Dude”
"In fact, the word “dude” is thought to have originally been a shortening of “Yankee Doodle.” In the original, British-penned lyrics of the song, which were written to poke fun at Americaan troops during the French and Indian War, you’ll note that Yankee Doodle is described as a dandy who is a fabulous dancer and wears a dashing feather in his cap."
https://uselessetymology.com/2024/04/22/the-etymology-of-dude/