flathead

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   dated US slang, insulting: a stupid or foolish person

   The con man dismissed the helpful young flathead after getting the information he wanted.

2. 2
   noun

   any of several broad, flat-headed fishes, especially a marine fish of the family Platycephalidae or a flathead catfish

   The angler released the young flathead into the river.

A compound of flat and head. The fish names describe head shape. The dated American slang sense 'stupid person,' used in Twain's passage, follows the pattern of insulting head-compounds such as blockhead and should not be confused with the fish or proper-name senses.

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