do-littlen.adj.
/ˈduːlɪtl/, U.S. /ˈduˌlɪdəl/ A. n.
A person who does little; a lazy person. Also: something ineffective. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [noun] > lazy person
caynard1303
sluggard1398
luskc1420
slugc1425
truantc1449
dawa1500
hummel?a1513
rook?a1513
wallydraigle?a1513
sloven1523
dronea1529
draw latch1538
slim1548
slouk1570
do-nothing1579
bumbiea1585
do-little1586
lazybones1593
luskin1593
do-naught1594
loiter-sack1594
bed-presser1598
lazy lizard1600
lazy-back1611
fainéant1618
nothing-do1623
trivant1624
slothful1648
lolpoop1661
tool1699
haggis1822
lazy-boots1832
lazy-legs1838
poke1847
never-sweat1851
slob1876
bum1882
haggis bag1892
lollop1896
trouble-shirker1908
warb1933
fuck-off1948
poop-butt1967
c1475 Mankind (1969) 262 I trow yowr name ys Do Lytyll, ȝe be so long fro hom.]
1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 201 Men borne in a fat & fertile soile, are commonly do-littles [Fr. poltrons], and cowards.
a1654 J. Richardson Choice Observ. & Explan. Old Test. (1655) 281 Great talkers, are commonly do-littles.
1715 E. Baynard in J. Floyer & E. Baynard Ψυχρολουσια (ed. 4) App. 436 A Man of Quality, who had for some Years an aching and gnawing Pain in his Arm..had tryed Ointments, Plaisters, Fomentations, Blistering, Purging, and Bleeding, (and all the Train of Do-Littles) to no purpose.
1832 Johnstone's Polit. Reg. 1 Dec. 37/2 Taking the Ordnance, we find that seven Do-Littles receive £10,000; one hundred and seventy-seven Do-Somethings, Ł.52,000.
1888 Belfast News-let. 11 June 4/6 The Dolittles and the Donothings have been roused from their apathy.
1923 E. M. East Mankind at Crossroads xii. 350 This will continue..until that point of equilibrium is reached where no more do-littles can be accommodated.
B. adj.
Characterized by a lack of activity; doing little; lazy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [adjective]
sweerc725
foridledc1230
idlea1300
faintc1325
recrayed1340
slewful1340
nicea1398
sleuthya1400
delicate?c1400
sleuthfulc1400
slothfulc1400
sloth1412
lurdanc1480
luskinga1500
luskish15..
droning1509
bumbard?a1513
slottery1513
desidiousa1540
lazy1549
slovening1549
truanta1550
sleuth1567
litherly1573
truantly1579
dronish1580
lubberly1580
truant-like1583
shiftless1584
sluggard1594
fat1598
lusky1604
sweatless1606
clumse1611
easeful1611
loselly1611
do-littlea1613
sluggardisha1627
pigritious1638
drony1653
murcid1656
thokisha1682
shammockinga1704
indolent1710
huddroun1721
nothing-doing1724
desidiose1727
lusk1775
slack-twisted1794
sweert1817
bone-lazya1825
lurgy1828
straight-backed1830
do-nothing1832
slobbish1833
bone idle1836
slouch1837
lotophagous1841
shammocky1841
bein1847
thoky1847
lotus-eating1852
fainéant1855
sluggardly1865
lazy-boned1875
do-naught1879
easy-going1879
lazyish1892
slobbed1962
a1613 W. Finch in S. Purchas Pilgrimes (1625) I. iv. iv. 414 When they goe abroad each weareth one of those snap-sackes on his shoulder.., with his do-little sword by his side.
1683 W. Kennett tr. Erasmus Witt against Wisdom 41 What Woman would be content with such a doo-little Husband?
1834 A. W. Fonblanque Eng. under Seven Admin. (1837) III. 101 The..do-little policy which he regrets.
1869 R. F. Burton Explor. Highlands Brazil I. 20 That charming but..do-little capital.
1955 Life 15 Aug. 32/1 The nation's do-nothing mood [is] best typified by the closing session of a do-little Congress.
2001 S. D. Sugarman in R. L. Rabin & S. D. Sugarman Regulating Tobacco ix. 275 Forcing the do-little signatories to lay bare both the extent of their tobacco problem and their failure to make progress in solving it.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1586