nerfherder

nerfherder

English

Etymology

Coined by American filmmaker George Lucas in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back.[1]

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈnɜːfˌhɜːdə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈnɝfˌhɝːdɚ/

Noun

nerfherder (plural nerfherders)

1. (derogatory, fandom slang) A term of abuse.
   • 2000 March 9, Dion Turner, “Re: the panel”, in aus.tv, Usenet‎, retrieved 2017-04-28, message-ID <[e-mail]>:

     How can you think that loser has anything od^[sic] value to say? He's a misinformed, slimey looking nerfherder, which doesn't belong anywhere on that side of a camera.

   • 2010 August 18, Kyle Munz, “[Nighthawk Lovers] Group rules regarding profanity.”, in [e-mail], Usenet‎, retrieved 2017-04-28, message-ID <[e-mail]>:

     First of all, Ducttape^[sic] is not an acceptable substitute for electrical tape you DB! I'd rather you didn't use electrical tape either. QUIT CUTTING WIRES!! And seriously, is this a LAMP CORD running the length of my pretty black and blue nighthawk??? Wtf man? You couldn't do any better than a frapping lamp cord? What a real nerfherder! And if you're going to splice into a wire, why do it after the connector? You just disabled the purpose of the quick disconnect you inbred monkey hugger! Now I gotta unducttape^[sic] and unwrap the mess you made to get the blinker off!

   • 2016 October 30, Siri Cruise, “Re: Ye olde burbs & rural mythology”, in alt.politics.liberalism, Usenet‎, retrieved 2017-04-28, message-ID <[e-mail]>:

     Like when Aragorn starts on the paths of the dead bookwise he and his Dunedain are regarded, despite their small size, among the most powerful companies in the area. And then with the dead, he defeats armies in southern Gondor _and_ rallies those people to fight at his command, showing his ability as a king. When he gets to Minas Tirith he is leading an army as great as Rohan instead of a handful and a ship of vapours that would have been laughed at by orcs and ringwraiths. Moviewise he's never more than a nerfherder with ideas above his station stealing Arwen and betraying Elrond.

   • 2017 Rowan's sis, "Trouble on Tibalt", LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures s2e2

     Hey nerfherder, yeah you! I'm gonna need those for the B-wings!

References

1. Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia (1980) The Empire Strikes Back, written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, Lucasfilm; distributed by 20th Century Fox: “Why, you stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerfherder!”