Drongo

noun, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Any bird of the genus Dicrurus.
  2. 2
    A fool, an idiot, a stupid fellow. Australia, New-Zealand, derogatory, slang

    "In another story, the drongo is working for a farmer when the boss decides it is time to build another windmill. The drongo agrees to help but asks the farmer if he thinks it really makes sense to have two windmills. ‘What do you mean?’ the farmer asked. ‘Well, says the drongo, ‘there′s barely enough wind to operate the one you already have, so I doubt there′ll be enough to work two of them.’"

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Malagasy drongo.

Etymology 2

From an Australian racehorse named Drongo, apparently after the bird (specifically, after the spangled drongo, Dicrurus bracteatus). The horse (foaled 1920, retired 1925) never won a race, and by transference anyone slow-witted or clumsy became a drongo. * Alternatively, from putative RAAF slang drongo (a recruit), similarly after the bird. * Another suggested derivation is the Scottish Gaelic drongair (“drunkard”).

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