nitwit

[nit-wit] /ˈnɪtˌwɪt/
noun
1.
a slow-witted, stupid, or foolish person.
Origin
1920-25; nit (< German; dialectal variant of nicht not) + wit
Synonyms
fool, blockhead, dolt, dunce, booby.
Examples from the web for nitwit
  • Such a nitwit conspiracy among a large group of scientists would have a half-life of about three seconds tops.
  • Chalmers is a nitwit and an opportunist who steals ideas from others.
  • Now it seems you righties want him to be a secret nitwit as well.
  • Another nitwit cog in the wheel trying to make it palatable, and for you suckers out there, don't worry it'll get better.
British Dictionary definitions for nitwit

nitwit

/ˈnɪtˌwɪt/
noun
1.
(informal) a foolish person
Word Origin
C20: perhaps from nit1 + wit1
Word Origin and History for nitwit
n.

"stupid person," 1922, probably from nit "nothing," from dialectal German or Yiddish, from Middle Low German (see nix) + wit (n.).

Slang definitions & phrases for nitwit

nitwit

noun

A stupid person; fool; boob

[1922+; perhaps fr nit, fr German dialect, ''no,'' found by 1909, plus wit]