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    What is the origin of the term "Poindexter"?

    Question #75984. Asked by ruteger. (Feb 17 07 8:43 AM)


    lanfranco

    		It comes from a character in the "Felix the Cat" cartoons and refers to someone who is nerdy or geeky:


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poindexter

    Feb 17 07, 8:51 AM
    satguru

    		Simply Latin for 'right hand'. How it ended up as a nerd I can't say, my slang dictionary doesn't have it, and applying to most of the population would seem a pointless nickname unless someone only had the one hand in which case it would make sense.

    edited to add:

    Just saw the first reply (crossed with mine), I knew the cartoon character but didn't realise it was the first one.

    Feb 17 07, 8:53 AM
    Inteligento

    		Probably misspelled.
    But a combination of the two words poignant, meaning keen or strong in mental appeal
    and
    dexter, meaning on the right side
    seems to make sense.
    His very intelligent right hand man.

    Mar 19 10, 12:01 AM

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