blockhead JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU
/ˈblɒkˌhɛd/ · block·head
noun
- A person who is regarded as stupid or lacking common sense. Don’t be such a blockhead; you left the oven on again.
- A sideshow performer who drives nails or similar objects through the nostril into the nasal cavity, known as a human blockhead. The human blockhead thrilled the audience by hammering a nail straight through his nose.
verb
- To perform as a human blockhead, i.e., to drive objects through one’s nostril as a sideshow act. He decided to blockhead at the carnival, inserting a screwdriver into his nasal passage for applause.
- To behave in a stupid or thoughtless manner. She blockheaded by ignoring the warning signs and walked straight into the construction zone.
Did you know? The human blockhead act originated in the late 19th century vaudeville circuit and remains a staple of modern freak shows, despite the performer’s nostrils never actually being pierced.