a. Having ‘thick’ wits; dull of intellect, stupid.
1634. W. Wood, New Eng. Prosp., To Rdr. I decline this sort of thick-witted readers.
1642. Milton, Apol. Smect., Wks. 1851, III. 256. The conceit that all who are not Prelaticall, are grosse-headed, thick-witted, illiterat, shallow.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxxv. He is … thick-witted enough to adopt any belief that is thrust on him.
So Thickwit, a thick-witted person.
1904. M. Hewlett, Queen’s Quair, III. ii. 376. She cheapened herself in Love’s honour and was held cheap by Scotch thickwits.
