morgue

Definition

A supercilious or haughty attitude; arrogance.

Etymology

Borrowed from French morgue. The second sense developed from the first, via "a prison examination room", probably with reference to the haughty attitude of the jailers.

Example Sentences

• "They being newcomers, free from the western morgue so soon caught by Oriental Europeans, were particularly civil to me, even wishing to mix me a strong draught; but I was not so fortunate with all on board."
• "Librarian Talks of Newspaper Morgue"
• "Shand: get down to the Record and the Trib. See what they've got on Elliot in their morgues."