dork

Meaning

Noun

1. (slang) A quirky, silly or stupid, socially inept person, or one who is out of touch with contemporary trends and typically has unfashionable hobbies. (Overlaps conceptually with nerd and geek, but does not imply the same level of intelligence.)
2. (slang) The penis.

Verb

1. (slang) To act or behave in the manner of a dork.
2. (slang) To act or behave in an awkward or clumsy manner.

Synonyms

jerk

nerd

geek

klutz

dweeb

fool

git

goon

idiot

lame

moron

muggins

nincompoop

square

twerp

twirp

twit

tyke

whacko

dumbass

tike

uncool man

tekki

ass

🍑

spaz

asshole

bozo

chump

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dɔɹk/

Etymology

First use appears in the US c. 1961. The sense of a "silly person" is presumably from earlier use as a bowdlerization of dick (“penis”) in student slang, particularly the Midwest. It has never referred specifically to a whale's penis, but penises in general. Alternative etymology derives from dialectal Norwegian dorg (“a mass; heap; a heavy, dimwitted, slovenly person”).