nincompoop [M17th] The word nincompoop is of uncertain origin. It perhaps came from Nicodemus, the name of a Jewish Pharisee in the New Testament who became something of a byword for slow-wittedness. Nicodemus secretly visited Jesus one night to hear about his teachings. Jesus explained, ‘Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God’, which puzzled the Pharisee, who took Jesus literally and said ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’. The -poop part of the word may have come from the old verb poop, which meant ‘to deceive or cheat’. In a similar vein ninny [L16th] may be a pet form of the name Innocent.