Thickskull is a compound word composed of "thick" and "skull." The phonetic transcription of Thick is /θɪk/ and that of skull is /skʌl/. The word means someone who is slow to understand or not receptive to new ideas. The spelling of the word is straightforward as it describes a physical attribute of the human skull. The word thickness means a considerable mass or breadth, and skull is the bone structure that protects the brain. Together, they make a commonly used expression to describe someone who is stubborn or obstinate.
Thickskull is a colloquial term used to describe a person who is obstinate, stubborn, or resistant to new ideas, suggestions, or criticisms. The term is often used figuratively to refer to someone who is insensitive or impervious to rational argument or evidence.
A person with a thickskull is often regarded as having a dense mindset, being slow to grasp or accept new information, or being unwilling to change their opinions or behaviors. This term can also be used to describe someone who exhibits a lack of understanding or comprehension and seems oblivious to their own ignorance.
When used in a casual context, calling someone a thickskull may be intended in a light-hearted or humorous way to acknowledge their resistance to change or failure to comprehend a concept. However, it can also be used in a more derogatory manner to express frustration or disdain toward a person's persistent and deliberate ignorance.
Overall, thickskull is a term used to highlight someone's difficulty in being open-minded, adaptable, or perceptive, reflecting a lack of receptiveness or willingness to learn from others.
The word "thickskull" is a compound word consisting of "thick" and "skull".
"Thick" comes from the Old English word "thicce", which means "dense" or "thick". It can also be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*theku", meaning "thick" or "fat".
"Skull", on the other hand, comes from the Old English word "sculle", which is a variant of the word "scylfe", meaning "shell" or "husk".
So, when combined, "thickskull" figuratively describes someone as having a metaphorical thick, dense, or insensitive head, implying a lack of understanding or of being slow to comprehend.