twerp
pronunciation
How to pronounce twerp in British English:
UK [twɜ:p]
How to pronounce twerp in American English:
US [twɜrp]
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- Noun:
- someone who is regarded as contemptible
Word Origin
- twerp (n.)
- of unknown origin; OED and Barnhart give earliest date as 1925, but the "Dictionary of American Slang" gives a first reference of 1874 (but without citation and I can't find it), which, if correct, would rule out the usual theory that it is from the proper name of T.W. Earp, a student at Oxford c. 1911, who kindled wrath "in the hearts of the rugger-playing stalwarts at Oxford, when he was president of the Union, by being the last, most charming, and wittiest of the 'decadents.' " [Rawson] "Mean to say you never heard of Sinzy? Why, he's one of the greatest characters in this town. He's a terrible twerp to look at -- got a face like bad news from home, but I guess he's the best jazz piano player in the world." [Julian Street, "Cross-Sections," 1923]
Example
- 1. Because Bronze Age British man was many things , but he wasn ’ t some soft-handed twerp hoping to bang his head and claim the compensation .
- 2. You twerp ! Why are you here ?