numskull

English

Alternative forms

• numbskull

Etymology

numb (“deadened”) +‎ skull

Noun

numskull (plural numskulls)

1. (derogatory) A dunce, mentally dull or stupid person.
2. (derogatory) A person who refuses to learn or grow mentally.

   That numskull will never learn how to compose a letter.

3. A traditional name for a fool who serves as the butt of jokes about stupidity.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:fool

Derived terms

• numpty, numptie

Translations

mentally dull or stupid person

• Danish: tossehoved n
• Latin: gurdus m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Swedish: knäppskalle (sv) c

References

• Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, G.&C. Merriam Co., 1967