palooka
(US, slang) A stupid, oafish or clumsy person.
pəˈluːkəDocumented since 1920s1920sSilenthistorical145 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
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Born ~1920 · no dated citations yet20th centurySee decade cohort →
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#1·Apr 27, 2026
(US, slang) A stupid, oafish or clumsy person.
What’s more, Friends offers someone for everyone: a tall, dorky, insecure guy (David Schwimmer); a ditzy, guitar-strumming blonde (Lisa Kudrow); a handsome, jean-clad palooka (Matt LeBlanc); a sarcastic, 9-to-5-ing funnyman ( Perry); a d…
Origin: in the US since the 1920s, originally primarily of boxers. Popularized by Jack Conway of Variety, who also popularized baloney and bimbo. Further popularized by Ham Fisher in his comic strip Joe Palooka about a boxer (published in newspapers since 1930, particularly popular in 1940s). Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(US, boxing, bridge, etc) Someone incompetent or untalented.
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Other words near "palooka" (P)
pallaticpalliassePalmerPalomapalonepalone-omiPalookavillepalo santopalo verdepals battalionpalua ladupal up
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