propeller head
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A person deeply absorbed in an academic field or technical interest, especially to the exclusion of social activities.
Register: derogatory, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “propeller head” mean?
A person deeply absorbed in an academic field or technical interest, especially to the exclusion of social activities.
Is “propeller head” formal or informal?
propeller head is generally derogatory, slang.