snollygoster

English

Etymology

19th-century American English. Possibly from snallygaster, a mythical beast that preys on poultry and children; possibly from Pennsylvania German schnelle geeschter, from German schnell (“quick”) + Geist (“spirit”).

Largely obsolete, it briefly resurfaced in 2009 in Britain as part of a debate over MPs' expenses.

Noun

snollygoster (plural snollygosters)

1. (slang, obsolete) A shrewd person not guided by principles, especially a politician.
   • 2009 May 19, “Tory issues apology after calling Labour rival a "c***"”, in Daily Mirror‎^[1], archived from the original on 20 January 2014, retrieved 6 February 2014:

     […] I called for him to publish his expenses so that all Gloucester voters could see that he isn't a snollygoster (a 19th century term meaning a corrupt politician, the website later explains).

   • [2021 May 12, The Hon. Siobhain McDonagh MP, “Fairness at Work and Power in Communities”, in parliamentary debates (Commons Chamber)‎^[2], volume 712, archived from the original on 3 July 2022, retrieved 13 May 2022:

     […] I recently discovered the word “snollygoster”: not a character from “Harry Potter”, but an unprincipled person in office motivated by personal rather than public gain.]

Translations

shrewd person not guided by principles

• Japanese: ずる賢い人（ずるがしこいひと, zurugashikoi hito）