twerp

twerp
   A word expressing general contempt, implying that the person so called is stupid. Used both in Britain and the USA, e.g. by Frank Burns to Radar O’Riley in M.A.S.H. It has interestingly been suggested that a certain T.W. Earp, who was once President of the Oxford University union, inspired the formation of the word.

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

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  • twerp — [twə:p US twə:rp] n informal a person who you think is stupid or annoying …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • twerp — [ twɜrp ] noun count INFORMAL a stupid person …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • twerp — (n.) of unknown origin; the Dictionary of American Slang gives a first reference of 1874 (but without citation), which, if correct, would rule out the usual theory that it is from the proper name of T.W. Earp, a student at Oxford c.1911, who… …   Etymology dictionary

  • twerp — ► NOUN informal ▪ a silly or annoying person. ORIGIN of unknown origin …   English terms dictionary

  • twerp — [twʉrp] n. [ult. < ? or akin to Dan tver, perverse: for IE base see THWART] Slang a person regarded as insignificant, contemptible, presumptuous, ridiculous, etc …   English World dictionary

  • twerp — noun a) A fool, a twit. Now youve broken it, you twerp! b) A small or puny person; one regarded as insignificant, contemptible. Get out of my way, you little twerp! Syn: twit, git …   Wiktionary

  • twerp — UK [twɜː(r)p] / US [twɜrp] noun [countable] Word forms twerp : singular twerp plural twerps informal a stupid person …   English dictionary

  • twerp — /twɜp/ (say twerp) noun Colloquial an insignificant or stupid person: *Was there ever such a pathetic twerp? –terry lane, 1993. Also, twirp. {20th century; origin unknown} …  

  • twerp — /twerrp/, n. Slang. an insignificant or despicable fellow: Her father thinks her boyfriend is just a twerp. Also, twirp. [1920 25; orig. uncert.] * * * …   Universalium

  • twerp — n Petty, immature brat. The little twerp told her mommie! 1920s …   Historical dictionary of American slang

  • twerp — (twirp) n an insignificant, silly and/or obnoxious person. An invented word which appeared in the 1930s and gained widespread currency in the 1950s. ► My stuff is outrageously conceived and devastatingly realised. Oh do shut up you boring little… …   Contemporary slang

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