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Boffin
Posted by Capable wingnut on November 19, 2001
In Reply to: Boffin posted by Marian on November 19, 2001
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000 says:
Chiefly British Slang A scientist, especially one engaged in research.
The Best of British
The American's guide to speaking British says:
Boffin - This is the word for a nerd. Usually male, a boffin would be highly intelligent, have no dress sense and probably grow up to be a mad scientist or an HTML programmer!
and I also found an appalling limerick:
There once was an eccentric old boffin,
Who remarked, in a fine
fit of coughing:
'It isn't the cough
That carries you off,
But the coffin
they carries you off in.'
