dolt

Definition

A stupid person; a blockhead or dullard.

Etymology

First used as a noun in Early Modern English, from dialectal English dold (“stupid, confused”), from Middle English dold, a variant of dulled, dult (“dulled”), past participle of dullen, dollen (“to make dull, make stupid”), from dull, dul, dwal (“stupid”). More at dull.

Example Sentences

• "O Gull, oh dolt, / As ignorant as durt:[…]"
• "Moſt Monſter-like, be ſhewne / For poor'ſt Diminutiues, for Dolts, […]"
• "This Puck seemes but a dreaming dolt."