Poindexter

See also: poindexter

English edit

Etymology edit

From Jersey Norman Poingdestre (literally “right fist”). The sense “bookish or socially unskilled person” is from the character of the same name in the cartoon Felix the Cat.

Pronunciation edit

(General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpɔɪnˌdɛkstɚ/
(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɔɪnˌdɛkstə/
Audio (Southern England) (file)

Proper noun edit

Poindexter

A surname from Jersey Norman.

Noun edit

Poindexter (plural Poindexters)

(US, informal) A bookish or socially unskilled person.
Synonyms: geek, nerd
- 2003 April 6, David X. Cohen, “The Why of Fry”, in Futurama, season 5, episode 8, Fox Broadcasting Company:
  Brain: A quantum-interface bomb? Are you insane in the membrane? / Philip Fry: You got it, Poindexter!
- 2023 August 8, Janan Ganesh, “The oneness of Ron DeSantis and Rishi Sunak”, in Financial Times‎^[1]:
  On first listen, Americans of a certain vintage would call one a Poindexter, while older Brits would regard the other as a swot.

Alternative forms edit

poindexter