different between dolt vs halfwit

English

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.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d?lt/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /d??lt/, /d??lt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /do?lt/
• Rhymes: -??lt

Noun

dolt (plural dolts)

1. (derogatory) A stupid person; a blockhead or dullard.
   • c. 1603, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice

     O gull! O dolt! As ignorant as dirt!

   • 1627, Michael Drayton, Nimphidia, the Court of Faery

     This Puck seemes but a dreaming dolt.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:fool

Derived terms

• doltery
• doltish

Translations

Verb

dolt (third-person singular simple present dolts, present participle dolting, simple past and past participle dolted)

1. (obsolete) To behave foolishly.

Anagrams

• told

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d?lt/
• Rhymes: -?lt

Verb

dolt

1. second- and third-person singular present indicative of dollen
2. (archaic) plural imperative of dollen

Manx

Verb

dolt (verbal noun doltey, past participle doltit)

1. to adopt, foster, initiate

Synonyms

• (to foster): doltaghey

Swedish

Adjective

dolt

1. absolute indefinite neuter form of dold.

Verb

dolt

1. supine of dölja.

English

Etymology

From half and wit.

Noun

halfwit (plural halfwits)

1. (informal) Someone lacking in intelligence.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:idiot

Translations