Monday word: perfidy

[ersatz-read.livejournal.com]

perfidy (pûr′fĭ-dē), noun

1. A deliberate breach of faith; a calculated violation of trust; treachery.
2. An act or instance of faithlessness or treachery.

Etymology:  late 1500s, Latin perfidus, faithlessness or treachery.

Perfidy has a specific definition in the context of war, related to things like feigning non-combat status or misusing a flag of surrender.

Comments

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

So the false-flag gambit is a perfidy?

[ersatz-read.livejournal.com]

Good question.
Wikipedia says:
Historically, the term "false flag" has its origins in naval warfare where the use of a flag other than the belligerent's true battle flag before (but not while) engaging the enemy has long been accepted as a permissible ruse de guerre; by contrast, flying a false flag while engaging the enemy constitutes perfidy.

I suppose if we extend that logic to uses outside naval warfare, whether or not it is perfidy would depend on...the _consequences_ of the false flag action?

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

So firing under a false flag is perfidy -- gotcha.

[theidolhands.livejournal.com]

Very useful word, especially as I was having a chat about Judas the other day.