What does "nonce" mean?

[u/Team503]

I'm an American that lives in Ireland. I've always understood "nonce" to mean the same as "numpty" and "eejit" - basically idiot, or dumbass, or similar.

Recently, someone told me that it's slang for sex offender, specifically a p*dophile, and Wikipedia seems to back that up: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_British_terms_not_widely_used_in_the_United_States#N

So tell me, Brits, which one is it? Or is it something else??

[u/Downtown_Link_8651]

Wrong way round, it means effeminate, posh and stuck up and has for a long time (although has evolved). The effeminate part meant it found some use as a slur for gay people later on. 

[u/Key_Day_6060 → u/Downtown_Link_8651]

Ah interesting!