Jolthead

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. A slang term for a dim-witted or foolish person who lacks good judgment or common sense
  2. An informal insult aimed at someone regarded as stupid, slow to understand, or unthinking
  3. Someone considered dull, silly, or incapable of sound reasoning, used as a mildly rude name-calling word

Etymology: "Jolthead" is a plain compound: "jolt" joined to "head," with no change in form or meaning beyond the sum of its parts. A jolthead is a blockhead or dolt, someone whose head is thought to be as slow to take in ideas as a stone. The word is informal and mainly American, and its sense of a stupid person comes from the picture of a head that needs a sharp jolt to get any thought moving.

Synonyms: blockhead, dolt, dunce, fool, idiot

Antonyms: genius, sage