cretin

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkrɛtɪn/

noun

  • 1a stupid person (used as a general term of abuse).
  • 2 Medicine, dated a person who is physically deformed and has learning difficulties because of congenital thyroid deficiency.

Derivatives

cretinism

noun

cretinous

adjective

Origin:

late 18th century: from French crétin, from Swiss French crestin 'Christian' (from Latin Christianus), here used to mean 'human being', apparently as a reminder that, though deformed, cretins were human and not beasts