How to Use "Dingbat"

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The heart has no room for vengeance, but plenty of room for forgiveness.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Night exits stage left.
Day enters stage right.
Now the real action begins.

Amen

[A haiku, by the way.]

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Be afraid, be very afraid.”

[No, I think He usually said “Fear not.”]

D. Blog: Weird Word – “Dingbat”

This word has a common meaning in everyday usage, as in the commercial now showing on TV. The head of a law firm suggests calling it by acronym rather than the partner names, and the acronym turns out to be D.I.N.G.B.A.T.S.

When I do an Internet search on the word, however, I hardly find anything related to that common usage. Instead, it’s all about special graphic character fonts for printing. Fortunately, trusty Merriam-Webster have their priorities in order:

ding·bat (dĭng'băt') n.

(1) Slang. An empty-headed or silly person.
(2) An object, such as a brick or stone, used as a missile.
(3) Slang. An unspecified gadget or other small article, especially one whose name is unknown or forgotten.
(4) Printing. A typographical ornament or symbol.

[Probably DING1 + BAT2 (as in bats in the belfry).]

[I think the common usage should prevail - such people are far more noticeable...]