Balourdise

/bæˈlʊrdaɪz/ verb

Definition

To act stupidly or clumsily; to behave like a fool or oaf.

Etymology

From French 'balourd' (clumsy oaf) with the verb suffix '-ise' (British) or '-ize' (American), a rare word that surfaced in English through French literary influence, now primarily historical.

Kelly Says

This wonderfully French word encapsulates the Gallic delight in linguistic precision about human foolishness—they have so many specific words for different types of stupidity and clumsiness that the language itself seems designed to mock human error.

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