different between nincompoop vs schmendrick

English

Etymology

Origin uncertain; the first element nincom- is possibly from the name Nicholas or Nicodemus (compare French nicodème (“foolish or gullible person”), from the Pharisee named Nicodemus mentioned in the Bible who asks Jesus seemingly naive questions: see John 3:1–21), or from ninny (“foolish or silly person”), while the second element -poop could be derived from poop (“(obsolete) to cheat, deceive, fool”). The English lexicographer Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) suggested that the first element might be from Latin non compos (mentis) (“not of sound mind”), but the Oxford English Dictionary notes that this does not correspond with early forms of the word from the 16th century such as nickumpoop and nicompoop.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n??k?mpu?p/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n??k?m?pup/, /?n?n-/
• Hyphenation: nin?com?poop

Noun

nincompoop (plural nincompoops)

1. (derogatory) A foolish or silly person. [from 16th c.]

   Synonyms: dunderhead, fool, imbecile, nitwit, gaby, hammerhead; see also Thesaurus:fool

Alternative forms

• nickumpoop, nicompoop, nincumpoop (obsolete)

Derived terms

• nincompoopish
• nincompoopism
• nincompoopery

Translations

References

English

Alternative forms

• shmendrick

Etymology

From Yiddish ????????? (shmendrik), from the name of a character in the operetta Shmendrik, oder Die komishe Chaseneh (Schmendrik, or The Comical Wedding) by Avrom Goldfaden.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??m?nd??k/

Noun

schmendrick (plural schmendricks)

1. A stupid person; a fool; a nincompoop.

   Some schmendrick from downstairs asked if you could turn down your stereo.

Translations

See also

• schlemiel
• schmuck