Lamebrain
/ˈleɪmˌbreɪn/noun
A foolish or stupid person.
Did you know?Unlike words such as “spell” or “glamour,” “lamebrain” is a straightforward insult built from native English parts, showing how language can turn bodily impairment into a metaphor for stupidity.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
lām
“Crippled, disabled, weak or infirm in the legs”
Old English
OE
brægen
“Brain”
Middle English
ME
lame brayn
“A physically weak or impaired brain; figuratively, a foolish person”
19th Century
English
lamebrain
“An insult meaning a stupid, foolish person”
Modern English
English
lamebrain
“A foolish or stupid person”