Tomnoddy

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who is considered foolish or simple-minded; an individual displaying lack of good judgment or intelligence; someone behaving in a silly or absurd manner
2. Someone regarded as lacking wit or sense; a person acting in a confused or imprudent way; an individual exhibiting childish or nonsensical behavior
3. An individual seen as dull-witted or slow to understand; someone characterized by impracticality or foolishness; a person prone to making silly mistakes or poor decisions

Etymology: "Tom" has long been a generic male name in English, like "Jack" or "Dick," and it was attached to many nouns to mean a typical male example of something, as in "tomcat." The second element, "noddy," comes from "nod," which described a head drooping with sleep. The noun came to mean a simpleton, someone whose head seems to bob with drowsy stupidity. Put together, the pair names a dim-witted fellow, and the combination is typical of the playful English habit of pairing a common name with a term of mild insult. It is an informal word, mostly British, and it has the affectionate sting of "silly Billy" or "dope."

Synonyms: fool, simpleton, idiot, blockhead, dunce

Antonyms: genius, intellectual, sage, wise person