English Explanatory Dictionary

nincompoop

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A foolish or silly person.

Pronunciation

/ˈnɪŋkəmpuːp/ /ˈnɪŋkəmˌpup/ /ˈnɪn-/ En-us-nincompoop.ogg

Word forms

nincompoop nincompoops nickumpoop nicompoop nincumpoop

Etymology

Uncertain; the first element nincom- is possibly from the name Nicholas or Nicodemus (compare French nicodème (“foolish or gullible person”), from the Pharisee named Nicodemus mentioned in the Bible who asks Jesus seemingly naive questions: see John 3:1–21), or from ninny (“foolish or silly person”), while the second element -poop could be derived from poop (“(obsolete) to cheat, deceive, fool”). The English lexicographer Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) suggested that the first element might be from Latin non compos (mentis) (“not of sound mind”), but the Oxford English Dictionary notes that this does not correspond with early forms of the word from the 16th century such as nickumpoop and nicompoop.

Synonyms

dunderhead fool imbecile nitwit gaby hammerhead putz alcatote asshat arsehole asshole bayard berk birdbrain blither bobchin bonehead bozo buffoon brickhead Charlie chucklehead chowderhead chump clart clown der-brain dill pickle dim bulb dimwit dingleberry dipshit dipstick dirtbrain div divvo divvy dolt donk doodle doofus dope dork dote dotterel dullard dumbass dumbbell dumbo dumb fuck dummy dunce dupe fathead fenderhead fiddle fuckwit fuzznut geck gig

Related words

nincun

Derived words

nincompoopish nincompoopism nincompoopery
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