Dictionary

nitwit en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈnɪtwɪt/ (US)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

First attested in the 1910s in the US Northeast. Likely from German nit, dialect form of nichts (“nothing”), or Yiddish ניט (nit), dialect form of נישט (nisht, “no”), although some dictionaries give the alternative etymology nit (“louse egg; something very small”) + wit.

Meanings

1. (informal) A scatterbrained or stupid person.
   • "Don't be a nitwit, honey!" says Adele. "Here, let me open the door! Ma be I did leave them lights on, though it ain't ike me!" 1922, Nina Wilcox Putnam, Laughter Inc:
   • If you don't remember you are a nitwit. If you do answer, well, you know what the penalty is for perjury. 1918, State Bar Association of Connecticut, Annual Report, page 82:

Forms

Deriveds

nitwittish · nitwittery

Translations (17)

mi poroheahea (scatterbrained or stupid person) · de Dummkopf (scatterbrained or stupid person) · pl głupiec (scatterbrained or stupid person) · mi hākawa (scatterbrained or stupid person) · bg глупак (scatterbrained or stupid person) · mi pōrewarewa (scatterbrained or stupid person) · pl matołek (scatterbrained or stupid person) · sh budàla (scatterbrained or stupid person) · sh blèsan (scatterbrained or stupid person) · pl gamoń (scatterbrained or stupid person) · pl głupek (scatterbrained or stupid person) · mi ngoungoua (scatterbrained or stupid person) · sh zvèkan (scatterbrained or stupid person) · it sciocco (scatterbrained or stupid person) · de Schwachkopf (scatterbrained or stupid person) · tr enayi (scatterbrained or stupid person) · sh bezvèznjāk (scatterbrained or stupid person)