Dictionary

ninnyhammer en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Apparently from ninny (although attested slightly later) + -hammer, of unknown origin; perhaps compare earlier hammer-headed.

Meanings

1. A foolish person; a simpleton.
   • 'Silly noodle!—foolish simpleton!—bewildered ninnyhammer! He had brains in his head once.' 1836, Joanna Baillie, Enthusiasm, act 2:
   • "You silly, awkward, ill-bred country sow," quoth one, "have you no more manners than to rail at Hocus that has saved that clod-pated numskulled ninny-hammer of yours from ruin, and all his family? 1712, John Arbuthnot, The History of John Bull:
   • 1608, A Yorkshire Tragedy, dubiously claimed to be by William Shakespeare Why, the more fool she; aye, the more ninny hammer she.
   • 'Well, if I don't deserve to be hung on the end of one as a warning to numbskulls! You're nowt but a ninnyhammer, Sam Gamgee: that's what the Gaffer said to me often enough, it being a word of his. Rope!' 1955, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Return of the King:

Forms

Synonyms

boob · nincompoop · ninny