Dogsbodies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals who perform menial or tedious tasks for others
2. People who are employed to carry out unwanted or laborious duties
3. Workers often used to describe those who are seen as hired help or subordinates in a team dynamic

Etymology: The plural "dogsbodies" is simply the plural of "dogsbody," and the story lies in the singular. In 1818, British naval slang used "dog's body" for a dish of pease pudding, which sailors found so unappetising that they joked it was made from mashed dog meat. The name was a mocking comparison, in the same spirit as "dog's breakfast" for a mess. The term then moved from food to people. In the twentieth century it was applied to the lowest-ranked sailors, the ones who took on the dirtiest and most tedious jobs, and from there it spread into wider use for any menial servant or drudge. The meaning shifted from a miserable meal to the person stuck doing the miserable work.

Synonyms: lackeys, servants, minions, underlings, assistants