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Dumbbell

//ˈdʌm.bɛl// noun, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A weight training implement consisting of a short bar with weight counterpoised on each end.

    "He was exercising with the dumbbells in gym class today."

  2. 2
    an exercising weight; two spheres connected by a short bar that serves as a handle wordnet
  3. 3
    A bell with no clapper, used as bell-striking practice or to strike as a form of physical exercise obsolete
  4. 4
    an ignorant or foolish person wordnet
  5. 5
    A stupid person. derogatory, slang

    "That's fool's gold, you dumbbell. Iron pyrite. Nobody would give you a dime for a ton of it."

Etymology

From dumb (“silent”) + bell (“a resonating instrument”). The term "dumbbell" originated in 18th-century England to describe silent exercise apparatus used in practicing the motions of ringing church bells without making any sound. The component "dumb" referred to the device being silent (lacking a clapper), while component "bell" referred to the apparatus mimicking the motion of ringing a church bell. It is unknown whether such exercise was originally for the purpose of training bellringers or was rather in simple imitation of the (then more common) action of bellringing, but for the purpose of improving fitness.

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