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



RESET




Word of the Day

24 April 2025

LININ

(noun) an obsolete term for the network of viscous material in the cell nucleus on which the chromatin granules were thought to be suspended


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.

coffee icon