Meaning
What does Dickweed mean?
Dickweed is a derogatory insult towards a person you don’t like.
It is an obnoxious, undesirable, arrogant individual, and as the insult suggests (dick), it is usually used about a man.
When you are bored of the usual “dickhead”, “asshole” and “idiot” insults, and you need something fresh, that’s when you pull out the “dickweed” card.
No one likes a “dickweed”, yet the “dickweed” thinks everyone else is to blame but himself.
Origin
What's the origin of Dickweed?
The term originates from the precursor “dickhead”, which already describes a person you have strong, negative emotions towards.
The “weed” at the end means that the person is not only a complete asshole, but also annoying, unnecessary and not special in any way, just like some weed in a garden of flowers. It should just be plucked out and thrown like garbage.
“Dickweed” as an insult has been around since the 80’s, and arose in Californian surfer culture.
Spread & Usage
How did Dickweed spread?
This creative insult was first printed in 1984, but already one year later, it was mentioned by the character “Chet” (Bill Paxton) in teen movie “Weird Science”.
It was mentioned again in “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” in 1989, before spreading to online forums and chats when the internet became mainstream.
It was also considered the favorite insult in American TV comedy series “Mystery Science Theater 3000”, running in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
External resources
- Dictionary.com – Dickweed