A person who behaves in an unconventional or eccentric way. Someone who stands out as strange or unusual in their actions or personality.
American English compound from 'odd' (Middle English, from Old Norse 'oddi' meaning triangle or odd number) and 'ball' (Old English 'beall'). The term emerged in the 1940s, initially referring to an unusual numbered ball in pool or billiards, then extended to describe eccentric people.
The word 'oddball' perfectly captures how we use sports metaphors to describe human behavior - just like a misshapen ball that doesn't roll predictably, an oddball person doesn't follow conventional social patterns. Interestingly, being called an oddball has become somewhat endearing in modern usage, celebrating uniqueness rather than condemning it.
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