palooka
[puh-loo-kuh]
- an athlete, especially a boxer, lacking in ability, experience, or competitive spirit.
- a stupid, clumsy person.
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Origin of palooka
An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
palooka
- US slang a stupid or clumsy boxer or other person
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Word Origin
C20: origin uncertain
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 palooka
n.
"mediocre prizefighter," 1926, of unknown origin, credited to U.S. sportswriter and "Variety" staffer Jack Conway (d.1928). Non-boxing sense of "average person" is from Joe Palooka, hero of Ham Fisher's comic strip.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper