Plural of dunce; people who are slow at learning or who make silly mistakes.
From 'dunce,' named after John Duns Scotus, a medieval Scottish philosopher whose followers (Dunses) were mocked by Renaissance scholars for their rigid logic and inability to adapt to new ideas. Over time, 'dunce' became a general insult for someone perceived as stupid.
The word 'dunce' is a perfect example of how historical grudges become insults—Renaissance scholars thought medieval philosophers were so stubborn and outdated that they invented a whole new word to mock them, and 600 years later we still use it!
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