Snollygosters

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term for politicians who are unprincipled or operate with dubious ethics, often focused on personal gain
2. Referring to individuals, typically in power, who are cunning and crafty, especially in a deceitful manner
3. Used to describe those who display a lack of integrity and prioritize self-interest over the common good

Etymology: The best-known fact about this word is its uncertain parentage, which is why it is so hard to pin down. Nineteenth-century American English gave us "snollygoster", the word for an unprincipled, self-serving politician, and the plural here is simply its regular form. Its origin is usually traced in one of two directions. One candidate is "snallygaster", a mythical beast said to prey on poultry and children, which would make a politician a sort of predatory creature. The other is a Pennsylvania German phrase, "schnelle geeschter", from German "schnell" (quick) and "Geist" (spirit), suggesting a quick or nimble mind. Neither link is proven, and the two can be held side by side. The word fell largely out of use, but it returned in 2009 in Britain, during a debate over MPs' expenses, when commentators reached for a term that fit the mood. Linguist Elizabeth Knowles noted this revival in her book "How to Read a Word" (2010).