jackass
jackass Lexical Profile
jackass Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A foolish, stupid, obnoxious, or contemptible person.
"He acted like a complete jackass at the dinner party by interrupting everyone who tried to speak."
A male donkey or ass (Equus asinus), a domesticated hoofed mammal of the horse family Equidae, native to arid regions of Africa and used globally as a working pack animal.
"The farmer hitched the sturdy jackass to the wooden cart to haul firewood up the steep trail."
Word Nuance & Usage
While originally a standard livestock term for a male donkey, in modern usage 'jackass' is predominantly employed as a mildly vulgar, derogatory slang insult for a foolish or obnoxious person.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the early 18th century, formed by combining the masculine pet name 'Jack' (historically used to denote a male animal, as in 'jackdaw' or 'jackrabbit') with 'ass' (donkey), from Old English assa, ultimately derived from Latin asinus.