marplot
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
An officious bungler, who spoils everything he interferes with.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “marplot” mean?
An officious bungler, who spoils everything he interferes with.
Is “marplot” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.