Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US, also hooplehead) a fool, an idiot.

[1928		in N.Y. Times 11 Nov. 21: One of the strangest terms used by [NYC taxi] drivers is used to describe one who does not wish to work definite hours on schedule. A driver of this sort is called by his mates a ‘hoople.’ [HDAS]].
1967		W. Manus Mott the Hoople 23: A lummox like me, a real Hoople, gets away scot free.
1979		E. Torres After Hours 61: With hooples like that [...] Kleinfeld came to rely more and more on my judgment.
1980		D. Smith Glitter and Ash (1981) 128: The old man said, ‘Speakin’ of Maureen, you know she’s been acting like a real hooplehead lately, like a kid they let out of Creedmoor [Psychiatric Hospital, Queens] by mistake.’.

2. (US black) a white person.

1970

Current Sl. V:2.