Definition & Meaning of "dingbat"in English

What is the origin of the term "dingbat" and how is it used?

Dingbat is a slang term that appeared in early–mid 20th-century English to describe a person considered eccentric, silly, or scatterbrained. The term originally referred to a decorative typographical symbol, and its figurative use developed to suggest someone whose behavior or thoughts seem small, trivial, or nonsensical. Literally, it labels a person as ditzy or lacking seriousness. Historically, it was mildly derogatory or teasing, and today it remains informal, used in playful, humorous, or lightly critical contexts rather than offensive or vulgar ones.