or addle-cove, addle-head, addle-pate, subs. phr. (old).—A stupid bungler; a dullard; ‘one full of Whimsies and Projects, and as empty of Wit’ (B. E.: also GROSE). Hence as adj., ADDLE-BRAINED, etc.

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  1580.  J. LYLY, Euphues [ARBER]. [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 606. Adjectives are applied in new senses … a broad jest, ADLE BRAINES].

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  1601.  MUNDAY, The Death of Robert Earle of Huntingdon, i. 1 [DODSLEY, Old Plays (HAZLITT), viii. 219].

        I and my mates,
Like ADDLE-PATES.

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  1630.  TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Workes, II. 252. 2.

        Let euery idle ADDLE-PATED gull
With stinking sweet Tobacco stuffe his skull.

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  1641.  SMECTYMNUS, Vindication, etc., 16,205. Call them if you will, Popish fooles and ADDLEHEADS.

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  1692.  J. HACKET, Life of Archbishop Williams, ii. 166. Coachman-preachers … barber-preachers, and such ADDLE-HEADED companions.

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  1694.  MOTTEUX, Rabelais, V. xlvi. Will the ADDLE-PATED wight have the grace to sheer off?

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  1705.  VANBRUGH, The Confederacy, v. 2. Oons! if you with your ADDLE-HEAD don’t know your own jewels, I, with my solid one, do.

8

  1830.  S. WARREN, Diary of a Late Physician, v. I know it was every word composed by that abominable old ADDLEHEAD,… a doodle that he is.

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  1835.  T. P. THOMPSON, Exercises, Political and Others, III. 435. Calculate the ADDLE-HEADEDNESS of such inveterate old women, as should go about recommending to try Juno for dry nurse.

10

  1848.  DICKENS, Letters (1880), I. 202. I was quite ADDLE-HEADED for the time being.

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  1849.  CRAIK, Ogilvies, xviii. It is quite too overpowering for such ADDLE-PATES as this gentleman and myself.

12

  1856.  MOTLEY, The Rise of the Dutch Republic, IV. v. 633. The ADDLE-BRAINED Oberstein had confessed … the enormous blunder which he had committed.

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  1880.  DISRAELI, Endymion, I. viii. Never mind Lord Waverly and such ADDLEBRAINS.

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