God-Save-the-Kinger

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

God Save the King +‎ -er

Noun[edit]

God-Save-the-Kinger (plural God-Save-the-Kingers)

  1. (derogatory) An outspoken supporter of the British Government when the monarch is a king.
    • 1920, Australia. Parliament, Parliamentary Debates: Senate and House of Representatives:
      The Bill does not deal with Germans only, it deals with all aliens, including those whom our friends opposite – the flag-waggers, the band players, the God-save-the-Kingers — spoke of as “our brother Allies.”
    • 1972, James Plunkett, The Gems She Wore: A Book of Irish Places, page 35:
      Protestants, generally speaking, were God-save-the-Kingers and went to Mass in the afternoon or the night instead of in the morning.
    • 1979, Dervla Murphy, Wheels Within Wheels, page 29:
      But the situation is not without its humorous side; it is delightful to listen to the former red-white-and-blue people -- the bigoted Unionists-- the erstwhile 'God Save the Kingers', expressing their views on the present régime.