Of Nincompoop's and Lunatics alike (word origins) / myLot

United States

February 12, 2016 1:26am CST

Was reading an article about insults and where they originate. Of all the insults I read, three are common between Brits and Americans. Lunatic and Nincompoop. Now I can't say I've said either of these in awhile, but I have said them nonetheless. Lunatic, first said in the late 13th century, "moon sick" or sporadic insanity to due with the moon." Nincompoop is supposedly "not of right mind" atleast according to Samuel Johson to whom compiled The first (proper) dictionary for England. What insults do you use today?

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7 responses

Kewkumber

@Ladypeace (2028)

• Singapore

12 Feb 16

I didn't know lunatic had it's origins from the moon, now it makes perfect sense. I use nincompoop and lunatic but not on a regular basis. My common insults are dumb, fug, S-whole and sheet.

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AmberLynn

@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)

• United States

12 Feb 16

I tend to curse in Spanish when I do curse. I don't know why I suppose it's just something I've always done. It helps when insulting another as well, though I try not to do so. :-P

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Kewkumber

@Ladypeace (2028)

• Singapore

12 Feb 16

@ScribbledAdNauseum Cursing in Spanish sounds (oh pardon me) sexy and fun. I think cursing is a form of therapy but only for a selected audience only.

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AmberLynn

@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)

• United States

12 Feb 16

@Ladypeace

Spanish can be quite an alluring language but I think Italian fits better!

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Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20363)

• Fairfield, Texas

12 Feb 16

I use to use nincompoop all the time @ScribbledAdNauseum , now it's "dipshit" or "dumbshit".

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AmberLynn

@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)

• United States

13 Feb 16

I hardly ever used those two insults myself.

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Koalemos

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

12 Feb 16

Oh, what a disappointment, I read the title and thought that you had dedicated a discussion to me.

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AmberLynn

@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)

• United States

12 Feb 16

So sorry to disappoint!

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sishy7

@sishy7 (27166)

• Australia

12 Feb 16

Oh, now lunatic makes more sense than how I've understood it all these times... Of course, lunar would be the root of the word... Oh, and what's the third insult that is commonly used between British and American?

AmberLynn

@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)

• United States

12 Feb 16

It's a curse word that would be blocked by the filters. I shall say it is four letters and starts with F. To be honest, it's used more widerange than just the US and UK. Oh and yes I didn't think of the connection between lunatic and lunar until now. It reminds me of a situation with a friend and an admirer who though himnself to be a wolf. I suppose he was really "moon sick".

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AmberLynn

@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)

• United States

12 Feb 16

@JudyEv I figured as much. In fact, I would imagine it would be common in many languages and thus countries.

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