Well yea, an idjit question! 
I have seen that spelling of “idiot” here and elsewhere, and I wonder what was the reason and the origin of that spelling.
it’s commonly used in ireland, pronounced eejit.
I think it is just a corruption of the word idiot.
I use it at home (in reference to my dog). We also use “Injun” (jn a mean-no-harm, fun sort of way) referring to native peoples.
Not sure where I picked it up…a movie maybe?
It’s human nature to elide. The spelling merely reflects the pronunciation, which no doubt has risen independently in many places and times. Trying to pin down a single origin would be like trying to catch the wind.
Actually, the first time I heard it was from Yosemite Sam on a Bugs Bunny cartoon. I can’t say it originated there, but I suspect that it did. That would be sometime in the 60’s I guess.
The earliest reference that I have heard using “idjit” was in the 1941 John Wayne movie “The Shepherd of the Hills”
My grandfather used “idjit” a lot. He was from Ohio, by way of Utah.
It’s just a slightly humorous dialect spelling.
A casual search thru Google News Archives shows 19th century references. Personally, my money was on Yosemite Sam.
It’s simply a spelling that tries to recreate a pronunciation that is common in certain accents, such as in Ireland.
It’s also used in Jamaican slang and Patois.
“Dem eedyats*, dem!” (They are all idiots!)
(or eedjat)
My grandfather was born in 1888, and never expressed any interest in Warner Bros. cartoons. I seriuosly doubt that is where he got it.
To be fair, I think Earl agrees with you.
OK then. That’s very different.
Whoa, I was not aware this got replies, so I should give all late zombie thanks for your posts. 