Dictionary

village idiot en · NOUN

Etymology

From the saying “Every village has its village idiot”, alleged to be an old Yiddish proverb.

Meanings

1. A person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency.
   • "So kindly keep the vainglorious enumeration of your pots for the benefit of those village idiots who compose your particular set of boozing companions." 1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, →OCLC, page 85:
   • To some, Mr. Cagri was the Internet's village idiot, but others were touched by his warmth or just tickled by the absurdity of the whole phenomenon. 2002 July 4, David F. Gallagher, “Star of 'I Kiss You' Site Moves From Farce to Folklore”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, retrieved 13 Aug 2024:
   • It is true that the Doocot was occasionally appropriated to other purposes than that of a tolbooth for the sorner, the drunken gipsy, the village idiot at the change of the moon, the swearing bluegown, and the contumacious birdnester on the sabbath; […] 1825, The Abduction; Or, the Adventures of Major Sarney: A Story of the Times of Charles the Second, volume II, Charles Knight, page 170:

Forms

Relateds

village bike · local yokel

Translations (20)

sv byfåne (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · mk селска буда́ла (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · fy doarpsgek (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · pl wiejski głupek (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · hu falu bolondja (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · ru городско́й сумасше́дший (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · ru дереве́нский дурачо́к (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · he שוטה הכפר (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · fi kylähullu (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · ro prostul satului (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · es tonto del pueblo (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · et külahull (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · fr idiot du village (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · nl dorpsgek (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · fi but see typerys (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · de Dorftrottel (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · pl wioskowy głupek (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · it scemo del villaggio (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · pt idiota da vila (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency) · da landsbytosse (person widely known in their community for their stupidity and mental deficiency)