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palooka
[ puh-loo-kuh ]
/ pəˈlu kə /
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noun Slang.
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
Words nearby palooka
Paloma, Palomar, Palomar Observatory, palometa, palomino, palooka, Palos, palo santo, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Palos Verdes Estates
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use palooka in a sentence
Unfazed, Bugs Bunny says, “Watch me paste this pathetic palooka with a powerful paralyzing perfect pachydermous percussion pitch.”
‘Baseball Bugs’ at 75: How a Looney Tunes classic left its mark on America’s pastime|Frederic J. Frommer|February 25, 2021|Washington Post
British Dictionary definitions for palooka
palooka
/ (pəˈluːkə) /
noun
US slang a stupid or clumsy boxer or other person
Word Origin for palooka
C20: origin uncertain
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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