Etymograph

English

freedumb

Blend of freedom + dumb.

A blend of freedom + dumb

Proto-West Germanic *frijadōm ‘freedom’

Old English frēodōm ‘freedom’

Middle English fredom ‘freedom’

English freedom

Proto-Germanic *dumbaz ‘dull’

Proto-West Germanic *dumb ‘dumb’

Old English dumb ‘silent’

Middle English dumb ‘silent’

English dumb

The story

First use appears c. 1856 as free-dumb.

Today it means

noun Stupidity masquerading as love of freedom; an assertion of one's personal liberty which is perceived to be unreasonable or motivated by stupidity.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / freedumb