An obsolete or dialect word for a simpleton, fool, or stupid person.
Of uncertain origin, possibly related to 'dalf' or other Germanic words for foolishness. The word appears sporadically in Scottish and Northern English dialects but has almost entirely disappeared from standard usage.
Words for stupidity are surprisingly numerous across languages—the profusion of insults seems to matter more than the words for genius, suggesting human cultures focus more energy on mocking fools than celebrating smart people.
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