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nitwit. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
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nitwit in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
First attested in the 1910s in the US Northeast. Likely from German nit, dialectal form of nichts (“nothing”), or Yiddish ניט (nit), dialectal form of נישט (nisht, “no”), although some dictionaries give the alternative etymology nit (“louse egg; something very small”) + wit.
Pronunciation
Noun
nitwit (plural nitwits)
- (informal) A scatterbrained or stupid person.
1918, State Bar Association of Connecticut, Annual Report, page 82:If you don't remember you are a nitwit. If you do answer, well, you know what the penalty is for perjury.
1921, Emmett Campbell Hall, “Need a Hero be a Nitwit?”, in The Editor, page 58:
1922, Nina Wilcox Putnam, Laughter Inc:"Don't be a nitwit, honey!" says Adele. "Here, let me open the door! Ma be I did leave them lights on, though it ain't ike me!"
Synonyms
Translations
scatterbrained or stupid person