village idiot
English
Etymology
From the saying “Every village has its village idiot”, alleged to be an old Yiddish proverb.[1]
Noun
village idiot (plural village idiots)
- A person widely known in their community for their stupidity and ignorant behaviour.
- 1825, The Abduction; Or, the Adventures of Major Sarney: A Story of the Times of Charles the Second, Vol. II, publ. by Charles Knight, page 170.
- 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; […]
- 1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney: Ure Smith, published 1965, page 85:
- "So kindly keep the vainglorious enumeration of your pots for the benefit of those village idiots who compose your particular set of boozing companions."
- 1825, The Abduction; Or, the Adventures of Major Sarney: A Story of the Times of Charles the Second, Vol. II, publ. by Charles Knight, page 170.
Usage notes
Usually used in the singular with the definite article (“the village idiot”) or preceded by another definite determiner (“its”, “our”, ...).
Translations
person widely known in their community for their stupidity and ignorant behaviour
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References
- Abigail Van Buren (March 26, 1999), “Year 2000 is not quite the new millennium”, in Chicago Tribune, Tribune Publishing.