lean-witted

lean-witted (comparative more lean-witted, superlative most lean-witted)

1. (archaic) Lacking in intelligence or shrewdness.
   • 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

     And thou a lunatic lean-witted fool
     Presuming on an ague's privilege

   • 1877, Walter Thornbury, “Athens under King Otho”, in The Gentleman's Magazine:

     there is not a street boy who holds your horse but has a laugh, and a good one, at the lean-witted, dull Bavarian

• “lean-witted”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.