twerp
or twirp
[twurp]
- an insignificant or despicable fellow: Her father thinks her boyfriend is just a twerp.
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Origin of twerp
First recorded in 1920–25; origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for twerp
Contemporary Examples
“Melissa the Twerp”Not everyone who writes or calls into Car Talk loves Car Talk.
Naturally, they invited her on to co-host on November 5, 1994, an episode later titled, “Melissa the Twerp.”
Any man can find a twerp here and there who will go along with cheating, and it doesn't take all that much manhood.
Historical Examples
I've been running this twerp back to his masters to see where he went.
Little BrotherCory Doctorow
twerp
twirp
- informal a silly, weak-minded, or contemptible person
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Word Origin
C20: of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for twerp
n.
of unknown origin; the "Dictionary of American Slang" gives a first reference of 1874 (but without citation), 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]
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper