Dŭnçe, n.

n. [Ger. duns, from Joannes Duns Scotus, called the subtle doctor, who died in 1308. See Note infra.] A person of weak intellect; a dullard; a dolt; a thickskull.

I never knew this town without dunces of figure. Swift.

☞ “Dunce is said by Johnson to be a word of unknown etymology. Stanihurst explains it. The term Duns, from Scotus, ‘so famous for his subtill quiddities,’ he says, ‘is so trivial and common in all schools, that who-so surpasseth others either in cavilling sophistrie, or subtill philosophie, is forthwith nicknamed a Duns.’ This, he tells us in the margin, is the reason ‘why schoolmen are called Dunses.’ Description of Ireland, p. 2. —The word easily passed into a term of scorn, just as a blockhead is called Solomon, a bully, Hector, and as Moses is the vulgar name of contempt for a Jew.” Southey.