palooka

Meaning

Noun

• A stupid, oafish or clumsy person.
• Someone incompetent or untalented.

Origin

• Used in the US since the 1920s, originally primarily of boxers. Popularized by Jack Conway of Variety, who also popularized baloney and bimbo. Further popularized by Ham Fisher in his comic strip Joe Palooka about a boxer (published in newspapers since 1930, particularly popular in 1940s).