nitwit

English

Etymology

First attested in the 1910s in the US Northeast. Likely from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] German nit, dialectal form of nichts (“nothing”), or (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Yiddish ניט (nit), dialectal form of נישט (nisht, “no”), although some dictionaries give the alternative etymology nit (“louse egg; something very small”) +‎ wit.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɪtwɪt/

Noun

nitwit (plural nitwits)

1. (informal) A scatterbrained or stupid person.
   • 1918, State Bar Association of Connecticut, Annual Report, page 82

     If you don't remember you are a nitwit. If you do answer, well you know what the penalty is for perjury.

   • 1921, Emmett Campbell Hall, "Need a Hero be a Nitwit?", The Editor, page 58
   • 1922, Nina Wilcox Putnam, Laughter Inc:

     "Don't be a nitwit, honey!" says Adele. "Here, let me open the door! Ma be I did leave them lights on, though it ain't ike me!"

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:fool

Translations

scatterbrained or stupid person

• German: Schwachkopf (de)
• Maori: poroheahea
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Polish: głupek (pl) m
• Serbo-Croatian: bezvèznjāk (sh) m, budàla (sh) f, blèsan (sh) m, zvèkan (sh) m