Clodpole

/ˈklɑdˌpoʊl/ noun

Definition

A stupid or foolish person; a blockhead or dull-witted individual.

Etymology

Compound: 'clod' (lump of earth, hence something dull or heavy) + 'pole' (a head or person); dates to 16th-17th century English as a derogatory term for someone with a head as dumb as a lump of dirt.

Kelly Says

Shakespeare and his contemporaries loved this insult because it combined rural imagery with contempt—calling someone a 'clodpole' meant they were as stupid as a peasant working with dirt.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.