Muppet

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈmʌpɪt/

Definitions

1. A puppet character typically from children's TV or films that is controlled by a puppeteer ; a term used informally to describe someone acting silly or lacking competence
2. A theatrical puppet popularized on television known for its playful personality ; an informal insult indicating a person behaving stupidly or ineptly
3. A type of hand-controlled puppet seen in entertainment media ; a casual, often humorous label for a person who is clumsy or foolish

Etymology: Jim Henson's puppets were not originally called "Muppets" at all. The name is a blend of "marionette" and "puppet," a coinage that Henson's team settled on early in their career, and it went on to name a whole franchise of characters on television and film. The word then slipped out of the studio and into everyday speech, where it now describes a puppet in the Henson style and, more often, a person who is acting foolishly or clumsily. The insult sense is the more surprising path. A word that once named a particular kind of performing figure became, through the popularity of the characters themselves, a casual label for someone who seems silly or inept. Speakers do not need to know anything about the puppets to use it that way, though the playful personalities of the characters are part of why the jibe feels affectionate rather than cutting.