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British people like to use "boffin" for smart person, expert, scientist, etc. Indeed a funny-sounding word.

Also slightly derogatory

dreadful tinny sort of word

I’m with you 100%. Odd sounding word.

It's not the oddness that's the issue for me. The problem is that I read it as mocking and condescending. Do British readers see it otherwise?

It sounds like something out of Harry Potter to me.

I'm from the UK and I hate it too

It's a normal word in British English.