zilch

Meanings

Noun

• A nobody: a person who is worthless in importance or character.
• Nothing, zero.

Adjective

• No, zero, non-existent.

Verb

• To cause to score nothing, to thoroughly defeat.

Related

Similar words

• shutout

Origin

• Probably from Joe Zilch, a placeholder name (compare John Doe) used by Nunnally Johnson in his column in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from 1923; in turn from Joe Zilch, an unseen character referenced in comedian Frank Tinney's stage routine. Compare the rare German surname Zilch.