different between derp vs twerp

English

Etymology

Probably from dur, British informal exclamation for “stupid”, or from duh, an exclamation indicating faltering speech and assumed stupidity, glottalized for emphasis. It is believed that the word came from "The Succubus", an episode of South Park.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d?p/, /d?p/

Interjection

derp

1. (slang) Draws attention to an act of foolishness or stupidity.
2. (slang) A placeholder for unimportant details, blah blah blah.

Usage notes

In the placeholder sense, often used with herp. Can be used like a noun or a verb or with various suffixes. Connotes that whatever it stands in for does not matter, and often that it is foolish or nonsensical.

Verb

derp (third-person singular simple present derps, present participle derping, simple past and past participle derped)

1. (slang) To act stupidly or foolishly
2. (slang) To make a stupid mistake
3. (slang, of eyes) To point in different directions; (of a person) To have a facial expression with one's eyes pointing in different directions.

Derived terms

• derpy

Noun

derp (plural derps)

1. (slang) A person who acts stupidly or foolishly; a person who derps.
2. (slang) A stupid mistake.
3. derp (uncountable) The rhetorical tactic of constantly repeating an opinion after facts have proved it incorrect.
   • 2013 June 4, Noah Smith, “What is "derp"? The answer is technical,” in [Noahpinion (blog)]:

     English has no word for "the constant, repetitive reiteration of strong priors". Yet it is a well-known phenomenon in the world of punditry, debate, and public affairs. On Twitter, we call it "derp".

Anagrams

• -pred-, PDRE, pred, pred-

Old High German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /derp/

Adjective

derp

1. Alternative form of derb

English

Alternative forms

• twirp

Etymology

Of uncertain origin. The Oxford English Dictionary writes that it may have been coined (perhaps by J. R. R. Tolkien) around 1910 from the name of T. W. Earp. However, the Dictionary of American Slang writes that it was in use in 1874. It may be a dialectal variant of dwarf (compare Middle English dwerf, Low German Twarg); it may also derive from the onomatopoeic twirp.The word was used to denote a type of racing pigeon that flew between Antwerp and London c. 1870 [see "The Odd Facts of Life" – Bill Hooper, published in 1965]. It may also be related to the Welsh twp, a fool.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /tw?p/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /tw??p/
• Rhymes: -??(?)p

Noun

twerp (plural twerps)

1. (Britain, colloquial) A fool, a twit.

   Now you've broken it, you twerp!

2. (US, colloquial) A small or puny person; one regarded as insignificant, contemptible.

   Get out of my way, you little twerp!

3. (US, colloquial) A person who can be bullied playfully, or easily teased. Sometimes used as a pet-name (often for a younger sibling).

Synonyms

• (puny person): twerk
• (fool): twit
• (fool): git

Related terms

• twerk

Translations

References

• See Citations:twerp.