crackpot

Definition

An eccentric, crazy or foolish person.

Etymology

Mostly likely a back-etymology of pot, to form crack + pot. Originally, from crack + pate. Compare typologically Russian чо́кнутый (čóknutyj) (< чо́каться (čókatʹsja), onomatopoeic), see crack for the further typology.

Example Sentences

• "Time will tell whether he is a crackpot or a genius for promoting that sort of idea."
• "The Police Commissioner sat studying Frank the Flower for several minutes. Then he called the policeman who had arrested Frank. “You will have to lock this man up,” he said. “But treat him gently. He is a harmless crackpot.”"
• "No one plots like Gaston / Takes cheap shots like Gaston / Plans to persecute harmless crackpots like Gaston"