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noun Uncommon

Melvin

MEHL-vihn

Melvin (noun) means a prank wedgie pulled from the front rather than from behind. Example: “His older brother gave him a melvin in front of the whole class.”

noun
1
A prank wedgie pulled from the front rather than from behind.
"His older brother gave him a melvin in front of the whole class."
2
Informal, dated: an awkward or unfashionable person; a nerd.
"The movie cast him as the classic melvin who gets picked last for every team."

How to use Melvin

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSlang for a specific kind of wedgie, or an old-fashioned put-down for an uncool, socially awkward person.

When to use it

Very informal and mostly dated slang, rarely heard outside American teen comedies from the 1980s-90s.

Word forms

melvins plural, melvins plural

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His older brother gave him a _____ in front of the whole class.

Etymology

Variant of the Scottish surname Melville, from a place name Malleville in Normandy, from Latin mala (“bad”) + Old French ville (“settlement”). * Used to Anglicize Mac Gille Beathain in Scotland and Ó Maoil Mhín in Ireland.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for Melvin

See all rhymes for Melvin →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Melvin” mean?

The word “Melvin” means a prank wedgie pulled from the front rather than from behind. In plain terms, slang for a specific kind of wedgie, or an old-fashioned put-down for an uncool, socially awkward person.

How do you pronounce “Melvin”?

“Melvin” is pronounced MEHL-vihn (/ˈmɛlvɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “Melvin” in a sentence?

Here is “Melvin” used in a sentence: “His older brother gave him a melvin in front of the whole class.”

What part of speech is “Melvin”?

“Melvin” is a noun.

Is “Melvin” a common word?

“Melvin” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Melvin” have?

“Melvin” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a prank wedgie pulled from the front rather than from behind.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial · etymology from Wiktionary