ass1

 
Pronunciation: /as/

noun

  • 1a hoofed mammal of the horse family, which is typically smaller than a horse and has longer ears and a braying call.
    • Genus Equus, family Equidae: E. africanus of Africa, which is the ancestor of the domestic ass or donkey, and E. hemionus of Asia
  • (in general use) a donkey.
  • 2British informal a foolish or stupid person: that ass of a young man

Phrases

make an ass of oneself

informal behave in a way that makes one look foolish or stupid: I made an awful ass of myself

Origin:

Old English assa, from a Celtic word related to Welsh asyn, Breton azen, based on Latin asinus