# derp
## English
### Etymology

Probably from dur, British informal exclamation for “stupid” or from duh, an exclamation indicating faltering speech and assumed stupidity, glottalized for emphasis. Popularized by BASEketball (1998) and "Succubus", a 1999 episode of South Park. See also twerp possibly related to Welsh twp meaning fool. Derp was used in the 1934 movie 'College Rhythm' to refer to a nerdy or awkward type of person.

### Pronunciation

* (General American) IPA: /dɝp/
* (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /dɜːp/
* Audio (General Australian):(file)
* Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)p

### Interjection

derp
* (slang) Draws attention to an act of foolishness or stupidity.
    I put chips in my soup instead of crackers. Derp.
** 1997 February 25, Pete Treichler, “Re: Patrick Incompentence Redux”, in alt.sports.hockey.nhl.pit-penguins‎ (Usenet), message-ID <Yn4ObEO00iV6A1SFx_@andrew.cmu.edu>#1/1>:Now that I think of it, i'm surprised that you didn't make fun of his first name as well- 'How could you believe in a guy who has a girly first name?' derp- you are a fool.
* (slang) A placeholder for unimportant details, blah blah blah.
** 2002 November 27, Trey Parker, “The Biggest Douche in the Universe” (14:28), in South Park‎, season 6, episode 15:Rob Schneider derp dee derp. Derp dee derpity derpy derp. Until one day, a derp a derp a derp a derp.
** 2011 January 10, Tom Allen, “Re: Expression of a woman's sexuality”, in soc.sexuality.general‎ (Usenet), message-ID <add2880c-51f2-48ba-bcb1-4f9bff60dd58@l24g2000vby.googlegroups.com>:Me: Hi, remember me from SSG? Can I ask you about herping the derp? R1: Oh, hai Tom. Sure, that would be the derp that was herping blah blah blah...

#### Usage notes

In the placeholder sense, often used with herp. Can be used like a noun or a verb or with various suffixes. Connotes that whatever it stands in for does not matter, and often that it is foolish or nonsensical.

#### Derived terms

* herp derp

### Verb

derp (third-person singular simple present derps, present participle derping, simple past and past participle derped)
* (slang) To act stupidly or foolishly
* (slang) To make a stupid mistake
** 2011 August 22, Scion-of-Fenrir, “Re: 4e Forgotten Realms Campaign”, in Google Groups: /tg/'s Google group‎, 184e4b33-8013-4f8f-b312-ce498111076a@b34g2000yqi.googlegroups.com:Wait, so we're allowed to have magic items from the start? I must of derped pretty hard.
* (slang, of eyes) To point in different directions; (of a person) To have a facial expression with one's eyes pointing in different directions.
** 2012 April 22, Double Eight, “Re: Next Meetup”, in Google Groups: Windy City Bronies‎:Also, there was a Derpy cameo in this one, but she didn't have derped eyes.
** 2012 October 25, Brian Benchoff, “Electronic demon costume is surprisingly unnerving”, in Hack A Day‎:The eyes are wired to the same I2C address to prevent derping, but the three red mouth LED matrices are capable of displaying anything that fits on an 8×24 LED matrix.

#### Derived terms

* derpy

### Noun

derp (plural derps)
* (slang) A person who acts stupidly or foolishly; a person who derps.
* (slang) A stupid mistake, stupidity.
* (uncountable) The constant repeating of an opinion after facts have proved it incorrect, especially as a rhetorical tactic.
** [2013 June 4, Noah Smith, “What is "derp"? The answer is technical.”, in Noahpinion‎ (blog), Blogger, archived from the original on 2013-06-09:English has no word for "the constant, repetitive reiteration of strong priors". Yet it is a well-known phenomenon in the world of punditry, debate, and public affairs. On Twitter, we call it "derp".]

#### Derived terms

* derpage

### References

* ↑ Becket, Stefan (2013 June 4) “The Origins of Derp”, in New York magazine‎, retrieved May 3, 2018
* ↑ Siese, April (2015 October 28) “These 'BASEketball' Quotes Are Psych-Out Gold”, in Uproxx‎, retrieved May 3, 2018

### Further reading

* “derp”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

### Anagrams

* -pred-, PDRE, pred, pred-

## Old High German
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /derp/

### Adjective

derp
* Alternative form of derb