Ne’er-do-well

subs. (colloquial).—See quot.

  1835.  Encyclopædic Dictionary, s.v. NE’ER-DO-WELL. One who is never likely to do well.

  Adj. (colloquial).—Incorrigible.

  1898.  LE QUEUX, Scribes and Pharisees, v. His two cousins … looked upon the NE’ER-DO-WELL student as an interloper.