Originating in the SW United States in the mid 1920s, the term "bozo" is short for "bogus Zorro," probably in response to the fact that, due to the initial popularity of
the Zorro character who first appeared in 1919, a large enough number of
klutzy imposters came
out of the woodwork to merit the creation of a new word.
Look, Bruce! That bozo just
chopped off his own toe with his sword because he was running around with his
mask on backwards!
Don't these
bozos know the Spanish left 100 years ago?!