DUNCE
dunce, dunderhead, numskull, blockhead, bonehead, lunkhead, hammerhead, knucklehead, loggerhead, muttonhead, shithead, dumbass, fuckhead
(noun) a stupid person; these words are used to express a low opinion of someone’s intelligence
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
dunce (plural dunces)
An unintelligent person.
Synonyms: idiot, Thesaurus:idiot
Source: Wiktionary
Dunce, n. Etym: [From Joannes Duns Scotus, a schoolman called the
Subtle Doctor, who died in 1308. Originally in the phrase "a Duns
man". See Note below.]
Definition: One backward in book learning; a child or other person dull or
weak in intellect; a dullard; a dolt.
I never knew this town without dunces of figure. Swift.
Note: The schoolmen were often called, after their great leader Duns
Scotus, Dunsmen or Duncemen. In the revival of learning they were
violently opposed to classical studies; hence, the name of Dunce was
applied with scorn and contempt to an opposer of learning, or to one
slow at learning, a dullard.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition