palooka
palooka · palookas
A stupid, oafish or clumsy personA stupid, oafish or clumsy person.
/pəˈluːkə/
Meaning
2 senses(US, slang)A stupid, oafish or clumsy person.
(US)Someone incompetent or untalented.
More definitions
- a second-rate prize fighter
Origin
Used in the US since the 1920s, originally primarily of boxers. Popularized by Jack ConwayUsed in the US since the 1920s, originally primarily of boxers. Popularized by Jack Conway of Variety, who also popularized baloney and bimbo. Further popularized by Ham Fisher in his comic strip Joe Palooka about a boxer (published in newspapers since 1930, particularly popular in 1940s).
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Forms
plural: palookasSynonyms
1 synonymsClose in meaning
- a second-rate prize fighter:stumblebum
Word family
1 related wordsRelatedtomato can