noddie

For histories were not intended to so generall and base a purpose, albeit many a meane souldier & other obscure persons were spoken of and made famous in stories, as we finde of _Irus_ the begger, and _Thersites_ the glorious noddie, whom _Homer_ maketh mention of.

The Arte of English Poesie George Puttenham

Down come a lad in response t 'Hard Harry's hail -- jus' a pallid, freckled little bay-noddie, with a tow head an 'blue eyes, risin' ten years, or thereabouts, mostly skin, bones an 'curiosity, such as you may find in shoals in every harbor o' the coast.

Harbor Tales Down North With an Appreciation by Wilfred T. Grenfell, M.D. Norman Duncan 1893

For histories were not intended to so generall and base a purpose, albeit many a meane souldier & other obscure persons were spoken of and made famous in stories, as we finde of Irus the begger, and Thersites the glorious noddie, whom Homer maketh mention of.

The Arte of English Poesie 1569