Doddard

/ˈdɒdərd/ noun

Definition

A person or animal that is old, weak, or doddering; a variant or archaic form of 'dodder' used as a noun.

Etymology

From Middle English dodderen, possibly imitative of the shaking motion of very old people. The -ard suffix (as in 'drunkard') was added to create a noun meaning 'one who dodders.' Largely archaic by modern times.

Kelly Says

Doddard is one of those delightful English insults that sounds simultaneously rude and affectionate—calling someone a doddard isn't exactly kind, but it's so archaic and silly that it's hard to take seriously as an actual slur.

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