dolt
UK[dəʊlt]US[doʊlt]
n
A stupid person
Etymology
The word 'dolt' entered English in the early 16th century, likely derived from the Middle English verb 'dullen', meaning 'to make or become dull'. It is related to the adjective 'dull', which itself has Old English origins. The semantic evolution is straightforward: from the concept of being mentally slow or blunt (dull) to a noun labeling a person characterized by that quality. The term carries a connotation of obtuseness and lack of intelligence, painting a picture of a person whose mind is not sharp.
Analysis
This word is a simplex loanword. It does not have separable morphemes in its modern English form.
Examples
He felt like a complete dolt for forgetting his own phone number.
Don't be such a dolt; look at the instructions before you start.
The play's comic relief often came from the antics of the loveable dolt.