wingnut

noun

1. A deciduous tree of the genus Pterocarya native to Asia.
2. (derogatory, informal)A person who is or seems odd, eccentric, or crazy; especially, someone with bizarre or extreme political views.

   “Near-synonyms: nut, nut job, nut case, crank, weirdo; see also Thesaurus:strange person, Thesaurus:mad person”

   “We are witnessing a wingnut war break out in American politics, organized on the Internet and fought out in airwaves and in town halls, wingnuts firing their shots from the outer reaches and strafing the common sense center.”

   “He was elected, wingnut raised and corn fed / Teabags dragging on the chamber floor / He did what he had to do to get southern boys to vote for you / To grease the wheels to get you in the door”

   “On November 21, evangelist Franklin Graham (son of the late Rev. Billy Graham and a strident Trump supporter) discussed impeachment when he appeared on fellow wingnut Eric Metaxas’ radio show.”

3. (slang)A member of the air force (in a town that hosts a USAF installation).
4. (informal, slang)A person with large ears.
5. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of wing nut (“(mechanical) nut with wing-like projections”).