What does marplot mean?
A marplot is a foolish or eccentric person, especially one whose behaviour seems comic or harmless. The term is chiefly British and now sounds dated, appearing more often in older literature than in contemporary speech. It can suggest someone impractical, muddle-headed, or eccentric, and it may be used with a degree of affection rather than outright contempt. For example, a character might be described as a well-meaning marplot whose ambitious plans never succeed. Although the word has largely fallen out of general use, it remains notable for its literary history: it entered English from German and was associated with a comic fool character in an early German version of *The Ship of Fools*. Its modern use preserves the idea of foolishness while often adding a distinctly whimsical or colourful quality.
nounA foolish or eccentric person. The word is now dated and rarely used in ordinary conversation.
- A foolish or eccentric person.
"They dismissed him as a harmless marplot rather than taking his accusations seriously."
"The villagers regarded the old man as a marplot, though he was harmless."
"The novel's central character is a well-meaning marplot whose schemes repeatedly go wrong."
The plural is marplots, though the word itself is rare in modern usage.
"The novel portrays several harmless marplots who are easily deceived."
A marplot may be absurd, but the word preserves an old comic tradition: the name of a fool in an early German version of *The Ship of Fools*.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of marplot
The word entered English in the early 18th century from the German *Marplot*, meaning a fool. German *Marplot* had been used as the name of a comic fool in an early translation of Sebastian Brant's *The Ship of Fools*. The English word originally conveyed chiefly the notion of a foolish person and was sometimes used as a proper name for a comic character.
Related word forms
How marplot is actually used
Dated and chiefly British. It is an informal literary label, often suggesting a person who is foolish, absent-minded, or comically eccentric; it can occasionally carry an affectionate or teasing tone.