Noddy
/ˈnɒd.i/noun
A foolish or silly person, or a tern-like seabird with a dark plumage and pale crown.
Did you know?In sixteenth-century England, Noddy was also the name of a popular card game and a direct ancestor of modern cribbage.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
nod
“To incline or bob the head, especially through sleep or weakness.”
15th Century
English
noddy
“A foolish or stupid person, probably one who nods or behaves senselessly.”
16th Century
English
Noddy
“The name of a card game involving combinations and scoring, later called noddy or noddy-and-ruff.”
16th Century
English
noddy
“A tern-like seabird; the name likely refers to its apparently foolish or heedless behavior.”
19th Century
English
noddy
“A silly or foolish person; the insulting personal sense remained in common use.”
Modern English
English
Noddy
“A fictional children’s character created by Enid Blyton, first appearing in 1949.”