Dork is a term of abuse favored by American youngsters, designating the target as quirky, awkward, eccentric, socially inept or simply of lower status. Similar epithets include nerd and geek. Originally a vulgar term for "penis," the word is often used without any awareness of this sense, as evidenced by its use in the syndicated family cartoon strip Big Nate (in the form "dorkus") for January 13, 2007.