A foolish or silly person; someone lacking intelligence or common sense.
Origin uncertain, possibly from Latin non compos mentis meaning 'not of sound mind,' or from the name Nicholas combined with poop. First appeared in English in the 1670s as a mild insult.
This wonderfully silly-sounding word perfectly matches its meaning - the rhythm and absurd combination of syllables makes it impossible to say angrily. It represents English's genius for creating insults that are more playful than hurtful, turning mockery into almost affectionate teasing.
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