shmendrik

a jerk

a stupid fool

The etymology on this word is unclear, beyond the fact is is Yiddish. It is the name of bungling character in "Schmendrik or The Comical Wedding" an 1877 comedic operetta by Abraham Goldfaden. In the play Schmendrik foolish, faulty, mama's boy. It was popularized in the United States as the name of a magician in "The Last Unicorn" and in the 1970's sitcom "Welcome Back Kotter".