numskull

numskull
   The earlier form of this term was ‘numbskull’, which shows the thought behind it, a person whose skull, or head, is numb.
   ‘You numbskulls’ occurs as a vocative in Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer. Tom Sawyer is called ‘you numskull’ by his aunt when he explains why he has poured painkiller down the throat of her cat. ‘I done it out of pity for him - because he hadn’t any aunt’ ‘Hadn’t any aunt, you numskull. What has that got to do with it?’ Tom’s ingenious explanation is that if the cat had had an aunt she would have administered the medicine to it to help it.
   ‘Numskull’ is still in occasional use as a vocative, normally used humorously to someone who is thought to be acting stupidly.

A dictionary of epithets and terms of address . . 2015.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?
Synonyms:
, , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Numskull — Num skull , n. [Numb + skull.] A dunce; a dolt; a stupid fellow. [Also spelled {numbskull}.] [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] They have talked like numskulls. Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Numskull — (nacido como Garrick Husbands en 1974 en Oakland, California), es un rapero y miembro del dúo The Luniz junto con Yukmouth. Ha aparecido recientemente en la Yahoo Pepsi Pass The Mic representando a la Bay Área. Categorías: Nacidos en 1974Maestros …   Wikipedia Español

  • numskull — [n] idiot blockhead, bonehead*, buffoon, cretin, dimwit, dolt, dork, dumbbell, dummy, dunce, fathead*, fool, halfwit, ignoramus, imbecile, jerk, moron, nincompoop, ninny*, nitwit, pinhead*, simpleton, stupid person; concept 412 …   New thesaurus

  • numskull — [num′skul΄] n. [ NUM(B) + SKULL] 1. a stupid person; dolt; dunce 2. Archaic the head of such a person …   English World dictionary

  • Numskull — Infobox musical artist Name = Numskull Img capt = Img size = Background = solo singer Birth name = Garrick Demond Husbands Alias = Sir Drank A Lot Born = January 31, 1974 Fact|date=June 2008 Origin = Oakland, California Instrument = Genre =… …   Wikipedia

  • numskull — noun a) A dunce, mentally dull or stupid person. That numskull will never learn how to compose a letter. b) A label for a person who refuses to learn or grow mentally …   Wiktionary

  • numskull numbskull — noun (C) informal a very stupid person; idiot: Look what you ve done now, you numskull! …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • numskull — or numbskull noun Etymology: numb + skull Date: 1717 1. a thick or muddled head 2. a dull or stupid person ; dunce …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • numskull — /num skul /, n. a dull witted or stupid person; dolt. Also, numbskull. [1710 20; NUM(B) + SKULL] * * * …   Universalium

  • numskull — Synonyms and related words: addlebrain, addlehead, addlepate, beefhead, blockhead, blubberhead, blunderhead, bonehead, bufflehead, cabbagehead, chowderhead, chucklehead, clodhead, clodpate, clodpoll, dolthead, dullhead, dumbhead, dunderhead,… …   Moby Thesaurus

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”