palooka

[puh-loo-kuh] /pəˈlu kə/
noun, Slang.
1.
an athlete, especially a boxer, lacking in ability, experience, or competitive spirit.
2.
a stupid, clumsy person.
Origin
1920-25, Americanism; origin uncertain
British Dictionary definitions for palooka

palooka

/pəˈluːkə/
noun
1.
(US, slang) a stupid or clumsy boxer or other person
Word Origin
C20: origin uncertain
Word Origin and History for palooka
n.

"mediocre prizefighter," 1926, of unknown origin, credited to U.S. sportswriter and "Variety" staffer Jack Conway (d.1928). Non-boxing sense of "average person" is from Joe Palooka, hero of Ham Fisher's comic strip.

Slang definitions & phrases for palooka

palooka

noun
  1. A mediocre or inferior boxer: a paluka who leads with his right (1925+)
  2. A professional wrestler (1940+)
  3. Any large and stupid man (1940s+)

[origin unknown; said to have been coined by the sports writer and humorist Jack Conway]