muppet

noun — 6 senses

muppet

nounalso spelled Muppet

UK /ˈmʌpɪt/ · AU, NZ /ˈmɐpət/

Etymology From Muppet, from the Muppets franchise

1

Alternative Alternative form of Muppet (“a puppet in the style of Jim Henson's Muppets”).

2

Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, Derogatory, Slang An incompetent or foolish person.

  • Sally is such a muppet, the way she always misses the train.
  • Some muppet has parked a car at the bus stop.
4 more examples
  • You impudent muppet, diu lay! You may be able to hoodwink people over in the UK, but not those of us over here.1996 April 18, soc.culture.singapore (Usenet):
  • 'Honestly, Ellie, I don't know why you bother.' 'Err, because I need to squeeze my size twelve self into a size eight wedding dress?' She rolls her eyes. 'You're such a muppet. Why didn't you just buy a bigger size? Dieting is pointless.'2011, Ruth Saberton, Ellie Andrews Has Second Thoughts, Hachette UK, →ISBN:
  • There was a silence while Miranda tried to form a sentence that wouldn't antagonise her friend. Or was she a friend? Would a proper friend have set her up with such a – such a muppet?2011, Penny Smith, Summer Holiday, HarperCollins UK, →ISBN:
  • The truth was I'd love to be in the school team but I wouldn't get picked anyway: most of the kids think I'm a real muppet, a gormo who's into bird-watching and if I tried to join in, they would just rib me, so I don't bother to show any interest.2012, Diane Perry, Red Kite, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 29:
Derived terms
muppetry

Muppet

noun

Etymology Most likely a variant of moppet.

1

A term of endearment, used with a young girl

  • "Mamma, I see Mr. Joshua Parker coming up the road in his gray hat with the black band," announced the daughter emphatically, craning her neck to see over the evergreens. “Do you, Muppet? Then he is coming to call at the rectory; for he never wears his hat except when he is going to make a call, — and there is nowhere to call at but here."1858, The National Magazine - Volumes 3-4, page 257:
  • “I thought we were pretty happy the way we were,” Aunt Holly said, ruffling Jamie's hair. “I'm happy. Aren't you, Muppet?“1997, Across the Rainbow, page 14:
1 more example
  • You know my little Muppet, Abby may not be able to find out if there is anything untoward going on at the institute, but I sure can.2016, Bryan Whelan, The Boson Experiment and Earths End:

Muppet

noun

Etymology Coined by Jim Henson as an alteration of puppet. Henson had claimed the word was a blend of marionette + puppet, but later recanted.

1

A type of puppet created by Jim Henson or his studio, typically operated with one hand of the puppeteer inside the head and a rod or glove to move one arm of the puppet.

2

One of a group of established puppet characters acting as a sort of repertory company on The Muppet Show, and/or appearing on Sesame Street.

3

Australia, Canada, Eastern, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, UK, US, Alternative, Derogatory, Slang Alternative form of muppet (fool).

  • 'I'll come, if you like,' Paul says. 'I'm not asking you, Muppet,' Kit snaps.2008, Cathy Cassidy, Driftwood:
  • English version: I'm A Cockney Geezer, You Muppet. No, you are an upper middle class, public school educated wanker (it takes one to know one) and I feel I must apologize to everyone on behalf of the land of my birth for the many crimes to cinema committed in the wake of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998).2011, Julian Hoxter, Write What You Don't Know, page 45:
3 more examples
  • She tilts her head towards him, and whispers in his ear, “Of course I do, you Muppet. I keep telling you to trust The Source and our guides; don't I?"2013, Guy Dance, Soul Brigade: The Mission of Light, page 245:
  • What's your fucking name you Muppet? I won't ask you again.2018, Peter D. Bull, Undercover, page 13:
  • Not that kind of atmosphere, you Muppet. A cut it with a knife atmosphere.2021, Margaret de Rohan, The Icarus Affair:
Derived terms
muppet, Muppetlike, Muppet News Flash, row like a Muppet

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — authors: page histories for muppet and Muppet.