A silly or annoying person, or in printing, a decorative symbol or ornament used between sections of text.
Origin uncertain, possibly from 'ding' (to strike) and 'bat,' or Australian slang 'ding-bat' (something that flies around). First recorded in the 1800s with the meaning of a foolish person.
Dingbat has two completely different lives—in the 1970s, the TV show 'All in the Family' made 'dingbat' an insult that entered popular culture, but typographers had been using it decoratively for centuries to make pages look fancier.
Originally a typographic term, 'dingbat' became a gendered insult in mid-20th century American English, used dismissively toward women as scatterbrained or unintelligent. The derogatory application reflects broader cultural patterns of diminishing women's intellectual capacity.
Avoid the insult form entirely. In typographic contexts, use 'ornamental character' or 'decorative symbol' for clarity and precision.
["ornamental character","decorative symbol","typographic ornament"]
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