twerpとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

Of uncertain origin; originally British slang of the 1910s. In a letter, dated 6 October 1944, J. R. R. Tolkien mentions a contemporary of his at Oxford University T.W. Earp, calling him "the original twerp"; but no corroborating evidence for this etymology has come to light. Other suggestions include: a clipping of Antwerp (“type of racing pigeon that flew between Antwerp and London”); the onomatopoeic twirp (“imitation of the sound of a bird”); a dialectal variant of dwarf (compare 中期英語 dwerf); Welsh twp (“a fool”).

発音

• (General American) IPA: /twɝp/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /twɜːp/
• 韻: -ɜː(ɹ)p

名詞

twerp (plural twerps) (colloquial)

1. (UK) A fool, a twit.

   Synonyms: twit, git

   Now you've broken it, you twerp!

   • 1940, Fred Godfrey, “Bless 'Em All”‎performed by George Formby:

     There's many an airman just finishin' his time. There's many a twerp signing on.

2. (US, childish) A small or puny person; one regarded as insignificant, contemptible.

   Synonyms: twerk; see also Thesaurus:worthless person

   Get out of my way, you little twerp!

3. (US, childish) A person who can be bullied playfully, or easily teased. Sometimes used as a pet-name (often for a younger sibling).

関連する語

• derp
• twerk

参照

• See Citations:twerp.