featherbrain

[feth-er-breyn]

noun

1. a foolish or giddy person; scatterbrain.

featherbrain

/ ˈfɛðəˌbreɪn /

noun

1. a frivolous or forgetful person

Other Word Forms

• featherbrained adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of featherbrain¹

First recorded in 1830–40; feather + brain

Example Sentences

Insults used include “nincompoop,” “nitwit,” “sap,” “fool” and “featherbrain.”

Read more on Washington Post

Paul tried desperately to translate and the driver resisted taking advice from a Slip of a Lass or whatever the French is for Slip of a Lass, I’m sure the direct translation in any language is more or less “Featherbrain,” as it’s what I get called whenever I’m expected not to be able to do whatever it is—fly a plane, load a gun, make a bomb—fix a car—so we lost fifteen minutes arguing.

Read more on Literature

“It’s not headless—it’s a white cow with a black head, you little featherbrain!”

Read more on Literature

As to her devices for getting rid of her mother and Betty and the landlady and Thomas and Miss Sukey Morton, who called to inquire whether Mrs. Featherbrain's new novel was called The Affectionate Aunt or The Disconsolate Uncle,—why, they were as old as the first writer of tales and I will not weary you with their repetition.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Mr. Featherbrain stormed into the office, spluttered for a while, and finally came to the point.

Read more on Project Gutenberg