crackpot

adj

Etymology: Mostly likely a back-etymology of pot, to form crack + pot. Originally, from crack + pate. Compare typologically Russian чо́кнутый (čóknutyj) (< чо́каться (čókatʹsja), onomatopoeic), see crack for the further typology.

1. Eccentric or impractical.

   “a crackpot idea”

   “While all this was happening Mr. Dies on February 1, 1943, in a long speech on the floor of the House attacked thirty-nine named Government employees as 'irresponsible, unrepresentative, crackpot, radical bureaucrats' and affiliates of 'communist front organizations.'”

name

1. A small village in Grinton parish, Swaledale, North Yorkshire, England, previously in Richmondshire district (OS grid ref SD9796)

noun

Etymology: Mostly likely a back-etymology of pot, to form crack + pot. Originally, from crack + pate. Compare typologically Russian чо́кнутый (čóknutyj) (< чо́каться (čókatʹsja), onomatopoeic), see crack for the further typology.

1. An eccentric, crazy or foolish person.

   “Time will tell whether he is a crackpot or a genius for promoting that sort of idea.”

   “The Police Commissioner sat studying Frank the Flower for several minutes. Then he called the policeman who had arrested Frank. “You will have to lock this man up,” he said. “But treat him gently. He is a harmless crackpot.””

2. Someone addicted to crack cocaine (i.e. a drug addict).