boofhead

English

Etymology

From (obsolete) bufflehead (“buffalo-head, stupid person”). Boofhead was the name of a cartoon character in a Sydney newspaper during the 1940s.

Pronunciation

(General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈbʊfhɛd/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

boofhead (plural boofheads)

1. (Australia, New Zealand, slang, derogatory) An idiot; a fathead.
   • 2010, Emily Maguire, Smoke in the Room‎^[1], page 2:

     'And he looks fit. Strong. I worry about you here alone. There are some real boofheads in this building.'
     'Harmless boofheads. Anyway, I'm safer with boofheads down the hall than some religious nut-job muscle man in the flat with me.'

   • 2010, Cathryn Brunet, Three Over Par, unnumbered page:

     "Stop it, you daft thing." He draws me into a warm hug. "I might be a bit of a boofhead but I do understand."
     My arms wrap tightly around him. "You′re not a boofhead. You′re a very nice man and I′m glad you′re my friend."

2. (Australia, slang, derogatory) An oversized head.
   • 2011, Peter Docker, The Waterboys‎^[2]:

     I'd recognise that dark crew cut on his big boofhead disappearing up under his black hunting cap anywhere.

3. (Australia, slang, derogatory) A person with an oversized head.

Adjective

boofhead (not comparable)

1. (Australia, slang, derogatory) Fatheaded; stupid; dimwitted.
   • 2007, Felice Arena, Garry Lyon, Specky Magee & the Spirit of the Game, unnumbered page:

     'Ah, if it isn′t the grunter and his boofhead mate, Biff,' said Matt, standing between Specky and the two Sovereign Grove thugs.

Derived terms

• boofheaded
• boofhead tortoise
• boofy