twerp

English

Alternative forms

• twirp

Etymology

Of uncertain origin. The Oxford English Dictionary writes that it may have been coined (perhaps by J. R. R. Tolkien) around 1910 from the name of T. W. Earp. However, the Dictionary of American Slang writes that it was in use in 1874. It may be a dialectal variant of dwarf (compare Middle English dwerf, Low German Twarg); it may also derive from the onomatopoeic twirp. The word was used to denote a type of racing pigeon that flew between Antwerp and London c. 1870 [see "The Odd Facts of Life" – Bill Hooper, published in 1965]. It may also be related to the Welsh twp, a fool.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /twɝp/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /twɜːp/

• Audio (Berkshire, England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)p

Noun

twerp (plural twerps)

1. (UK, colloquial) A fool, a twit.

   Now you've broken it, you twerp!

   • 1940, “Bless 'Em All”‎^[1], performed by George Formby:

     There's many an airman just finishin' his time. There's many a twerp signing on.

2. (US, colloquial, childish) A small or puny person; one regarded as insignificant, contemptible.

   Get out of my way, you little twerp!

3. (US, colloquial, childish) A person who can be bullied playfully, or easily teased. Sometimes used as a pet-name (often for a younger sibling).

Synonyms

• (puny person): twerk
• (fool): twit
• (fool): git

Related terms

• derp
• twerk

Translations

a fool, a twit

• Bulgarian: глупак (bg) m (glupak)
• Russian: дура́к (ru) m (durák), тупи́ца (ru) m or f (tupíca)

a small or puny person; one regarded as insignificant, contemptible

• Russian: ничто́жество (ru) n (ničtóžestvo)
• Slovak: krpec m
• Spanish: pendejo (es) m

a person who can be bullied playfully, or easily teased

• Dutch: ettertje (nl)
• Russian: простофи́ля (ru) m or f (prostofílja)
• Slovak: krpec m
• Spanish: pendejo (es) m

References

• See Citations:twerp.