dupe1
[doop, dyoop]
- a person who is easily deceived or fooled; gull.
- a person who unquestioningly or unwittingly serves a cause or another person: a dupe of the opponents.
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- to make a dupe of; deceive; delude; trick.
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Origin of dupe1
1675–85; < French; Middle French duppe for *(tête) d'uppe head of hoopoe, i.e., fool (compare tête de fou) < Vulgar Latin *uppa, Latin upupa hoopoe, a bird thought to be especially stupid; cf. hoopoe
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for duper
Historical Examples
The Beau tried to preserve his dignity, and throw over his duper, but in vain.
The Wits and Beaux of SocietyGrace Wharton and Philip Wharton
Come to find out it was the proprietor's wife, Mrs. Duper, an old mexican lady, who had been watching our maneuvers.
A Texas Cow BoyChas. A. Siringo
As a dupe was shown above, now the duper is signified, by Fig. 110.
dupe
- a person who is easily deceived
- a person who unwittingly serves as the tool of another person or power
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- (tr) to deceive, esp by trickery; make a dupe or tool of; cheat; fool
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Word Origin
C17: from French, from Old French duppe, contraction of de huppe of (a) hoopoe (from Latin upupa); from the bird's reputation for extreme stupidity
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for duper
dupe
n.
1680s, from French dupe "deceived person," from Middle French duppe (early 15c.), thieves' jargon, perhaps from phrase de huppe "of the hoopoe," an extravagantly crested and reputedly stupid bird.
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dupe
v.
1704, from dupe (n.). Related: Duped; duping.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper