med_cat: (Default)
Nechama Chaya ([personal profile] med_cat) wrote in [community profile] 1word1day2017-06-23 06:04 am

Friday word: Snollygoster

Snollygoster, n.

Definition:

an unprincipled but shrewd person

About the word:

The story of its origin remains unknown, but snollygoster was first used in the nasty politics of 19th century America. One definition of the word dates to 1895, when a newspaper editor explained "a snollygoster is a fellow who wants office, regardless of party, platform or principles...."

Source: Merriam-Webster Online, Top 10 rare and amusing insults

[identity profile] prettygoodword.livejournal.com 2017-06-23 02:52 pm (UTC)(link)
One speculation of the origin is the snallygaster, a cryptid from Pennsylvania and Maryland that preys on "poultry and small children."