flapdrol

Dutch

Etymology

Compound of flap (“flap, loose-hanging cloth”) +‎ drol (“fool”). First attested in the mid 19th century.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈflɑp.drɔl/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: flap‧drol

Noun

flapdrol m (plural flapdrollen, diminutive flapdrolletje n)

1. (informal, mildly derogatory) fool, nincompoop.
   • 1850 October 24, “Gemengde berichten”, in Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode, volume 7, number 705, page 2:

     Toontje, de bekende Haagsche boekworm, maakt met den nieuwen baas minder goede zaken, dan hij gedaan heeft met hem, die zich te Tilburg vergeven heeft, en noemt hem dan ook nooit anders dan: FLAPDROL!

     Toontje, the famous bookworm from The Hague, is doing worse business with the new boss than he did with the one who has moved to Tilburg, and accordingly he never called him anything other than: NINCOMPOOP!