Dunce
/dʌns/noun
A slow-witted or stupid person; a person who is inept at learning.
Did you know?Dunce comes from the followers of the medieval philosopher John Duns Scotus, whose ideas were mocked by later anti-Scholastic writers, turning a scholar’s name into a lasting insult.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Latin
Latin
Duns Scotus
“The name of the Scottish philosopher John Duns Scotus”
Late 16th Century
English
dunce
“Originally a term for a follower of Duns Scotus, often used mockingly for a dull scholar”
17th Century
English
dunce
“A stupid or dull person, especially a schoolboy”
Modern English
English
dunce
“A slow-witted or inept person”