twerp

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Alternative forms

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Of uncertain origin; originally British slang of the 1910s. In a letter, dated 6 October 1944, J. R. R. Tolkien mentions a contemporary of his at Oxford University T.W. Earp, calling him "the original twerp"; but no corroborating evidence for this etymology has come to light. Other suggestions include: a clipping of Antwerp (type of racing pigeon that flew between Antwerp and London); the onomatopoeic twirp (imitation of the sound of a bird); a dialectal variant of dwarf (compare Middle English dwerf); Welsh twp (a fool).

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

twerp (plural twerps) (colloquial)

  1. (UK) A fool, a twit.
    Synonyms: twit, git
    Now you've broken it, you twerp!
  2. (US, childish) A small or puny person; one regarded as insignificant, contemptible.
    Synonyms: twerk; see also Thesaurus:worthless person
    Get out of my way, you little twerp!
  3. (US, childish) A person who can be bullied playfully, or easily teased. Sometimes used as a pet-name (often for a younger sibling).
[edit]

Translations

[edit]

References

[edit]