Fathead

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈfæt.hɛd/

Definitions

1. A person regarded as lacking intelligence or showing poor judgment ; a large inflatable figure used for advertising or decoration, often shaped like a character or mascot
2. An individual considered to be slow-witted or acting thoughtlessly ; an oversized air-filled promotional display commonly seen outside stores or events
3. Someone perceived as silly or dense in thinking or behavior ; a big inflatable object intended to attract attention for marketing purposes

Etymology: Fathead is a plain compound: "fat" joined to "head," the two English words combined into one noun. The sense of a dull or thoughtless person follows from the old pairing of a large head with a lack of wit, a notion that appears in many English insults. The promotional inflatable sense is a much later extension, applied to the large, bulging figures that stand outside shops and events. The two meanings share only the image of a conspicuously big head, so the modern advertising use is best understood as a figurative outgrowth rather than a separate word.

Synonyms: fool, blockhead, dimwit

Antonyms: genius, intellect