Feebs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A derogatory slang term for a person regarded as foolish, dim-witted or mentally slow
2. Informal and insulting wording for people considered stupid or lacking intelligence
3. A demeaning colloquial label applied to someone seen as weak-minded or unable to think clearly

Etymology: "Feebs" is the plural of "feeb," a slang noun for a foolish or dim-witted person. The singular is a clipping of "feeble-minded," the older adjective that combined "feeble," from Anglo-Norman and Middle English "feble," with "minded," from "mind" and the suffix "-ed." Clipping the adjective down to its first syllable is what gave the slang its clipped, dismissive sound. Feeble-mindedness was once a serious clinical and legal category, which explains why the adjective carried such weight before it became an insult. Once it was shortened, the word lost that technical edge and became a casual jab, so "feebs" now sounds more like a rough nickname for a group of fools than a diagnosis.

Synonyms: weaklings