[Fictionary] Fictionary Results for Clem at Lasr! 5/23/11

[eLLioTT morEton]

> 6)	Clem, n, a dolt.  Coof, n, a dolt.  [Clem and Coof are characters
>    in an Irish Comic strip by Seamus Barclay, 1950?s.] Often used around
>    Manchester, England, the same way ?Mac? is used to mean an ordinary,
>    but slightly inferior, Joe.  Points from Ranjit (2) and Jim (1).
>    Elliott thinks this is the real one, but I made it up, thinking of
>    Max and Moritz by Wilhelm Busch, forerunners of the Katzenjammer
>    Kids.

Coincidentally, "coof" really does mean "dolt".  Here's the OED:

coof (n.) -- (Sc.)   A dull spiritless fellow; one somewhat obtuse in 
sense and sensibility.

1724    A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (1733) I. 27   Let coofs their cash be 
clinking.
1796    R. Burns Honest Man v. 3   Though hundreds worship at his word, 
He's but a cuif for a' that.
1858    M. Oliphant Laird of Norlaw II. 18   Do you think I'm heeding what 
a coof's ancestors were, when I ken I'm worth twa o' him?

The examples suggest that it applies specifically to *rich* dolts.

Regards,
em