lackwit

noun, adj — 2 senses

lackwit

noun

Etymology From lack + wit.

1

A witless person; a fool.

  • Fear flashed through Tom's eyes as the lackwit looked to the housekeeper.1996, Denise Domning, A Love for All Seasons, page 82:
  • “Enunciation, Piper. Enunciation. Don't make people think you're a lackwit.”2007, Glen Cook, Lord of the Silent Kingdom:

lackwit

adj

Etymology From lack + wit.

1

Foolish; idiotic or simple-minded.

  • An evil, however, accompanied the benefit; shoals of worthless authors sprang up, and you may still perceive the garreteer drawing upon his lackwit brain for some production, the labour of which he expects will be paid by the declaration of his country, that a second Boileau, a Montesquieu, or a Racine has at length appeared.1818, Peter Hervé, How to enjoy Paris, page 257:
  • One wall was painted with the story of St Robert the hermit and his persecution by Sir William de Stuteville, while the other depicted the cowherd Caedmon, albeit looking too lackwit to herd a hen let alone wax lyrical.2016, Isolde Martyn, The Knight and the Rose:
1 more example
  • Your fault for bein' so lackwit, ours for givin' you leave.2018, Chris Claremont, George Lucas, Shadow Dawn:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.