addle pate
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See also: addlepate
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
addle (“confused”) + pate (“head”)
Noun[edit]
addle pate (plural addle pates)
- (archaic, idiomatic) A foolish or dull-witted person.
- 1792, Thomas Holcroft, Anna St. Ives:
- Am I to be ramshaklt out of the super nakullums in spite o' my teeth? Yea and go softly! I crack the nut and you eat the kernel!
I tellee once again you've an addle pate o' your own! [...] Squire Nincompoop!
- 1882, Frank Lee Benedict, “Miss Alderly's Law-Suit”, in Peterson's Magazine, volumes 81-82, page 443:
- Then he executed a war-dance, and at its close stepped before Crawford, regarded him for an instant, and croaked out:
"Addle-pate! Addle-pate!"
"Upon my word, I believe you are the foul fiend himself," muttered Mark.
- 1910, Grace S. Richmond, Red Pepper Burns:
- “Go to bed, and don't bother your addle pate about your neighbours. Can't a man cut up a few sticks without your coming to investigate?”
Related terms[edit]
References[edit]
- 1811 Dictionary of Vulgar Tongue