# palooka

> English word · Noun · IPA /pəˈluːkə/

## Definitions
1. A stupid, oafish or clumsy person.
2. Someone incompetent or untalented.

## Etymology
Used in the US since the 1920s, originally primarily of boxers. Popularized by Jack Conway of Variety, who also popularized baloney and bimbo. Further popularized by Ham Fisher in his comic strip Joe Palooka about a boxer (published in newspapers since 1930, particularly popular in 1940s).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/palooka