Origin of the word "dork".

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A folk etymology suggests that it originally referred to a whale's penis, but there is no evidence of this. It has been used to refer to penises in general, not specifically those of whales.

I have never heard that. Gee, I wonder if the bullies back in the 1960s knew what it meant.

My first idea is that it means “fool” or “social misfit”. I always assumed it has something to do with another four letter word d??k referring to a male’s private parts.

What does onelook say? Wictionary? Slang dictionaries?

Its from a classic novel by Joseph Conrad.

The tale of man who takes a terrifying journey into ...a convention center in Omaha hosting a Trekkie convention.

Entitled

As usual, onelook.com covers both definition and word derivation.

Some highlights

Definition and discussion:

Source
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dork

dork noun

plural dorks

informal
: an odd, socially awkward, unstylish person

also : an annoyingly stupid or foolish person : JERK sense 1a

Did you know?
Of Nerds, Geeks, and Dorks
Dork, when used to refer to a socially awkward or inept person, is a relatively recent word: our records indicate that it first appeared in writing in the 1960s. Two of its synonyms in this sense are likewise of fairly recent vintage. Nerd (typically used of a studious species of dork) dates from the 1950s; it was coined by Dr. Seuss in his 1950 book If I Ran the Zoo, although not in the sense that we use today. The usage of nerd is now often used in a neutral fashion to denote enthusiasm or expertise (theater nerd) or proudly as a self-identifying trait (word nerd). Geek became synonymous with nerd in the 1950s and has similarly seen increasing use with positive connotations, showing membership in a specialized group (film geek, beer geek) rather than social awkwardness. In its earliest meanings, geek referred to, among other things, a carnival performer who would bite the head off a live chicken, or other small animal, as part of an act.

Source:

https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=dork


dork n.
1. Slang A stupid, inept, or foolish person: "the stupid antics of America's favorite teen-age cartoon dorks" (Joshua Mooney).
2. Vulgar Slang The p e n i s.
[Perhaps from dork, variant of DIRK.]

dirk n.
A dagger.
tr.v. dirked, dirk·ing, dirks
To stab with a dirk.
[Scots durk.]

Source:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/dork

dork (n.)
"stupid person," 1967, originally U.S. student slang, perhaps from earlier meaning
"p e n i s" (1964), itself probably an alteration of
d i c k (n.). Related: Dorky; dorkiness.
also from 1967



Amusing back-ronyms

Source:

https://www.abbreviations.com/serp.php?st=DORK

DORK
Disciple Of A Righteous King
Miscellaneous » Hobbies

DORK
Disciples Of The Righteous King
Computing » Telecom

DORK
Definitely Original and Really Kool
Miscellaneous » Unclassified

DORK
Definitely Original Really Kewl
Miscellaneous » Unclassified

DORK
Dreamy Outstanding Rambunctious and Kind
Miscellaneous » Unclassified

DORK
Daughter Of the Righteous King
Miscellaneous » Unclassified

It is derived from the latin Dorkus Maximus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorking