noddy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   any of several stout-bodied tropical seabirds of the genus Anous, closely related to terns

   A brown noddy returned to its nest on the coral islet.

2. 2
   noun

   an old-fashioned or chiefly British term for a foolish or stupid person

   Only a noddy would leave the gate open during the storm.

The foolish-person sense probably shortens obsolete noddypoll, an alteration of hoddypoll, 'an inept person.' The seabird name may reflect the birds' nodding courtship movements or their traditionally noted tameness, which sailors interpreted as foolishness.

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