snollygoster

Definition

A shrewd person not guided by principles, especially a politician.

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.

Example Sentences

• "[…]I called for him to publish his expenses so that all Gloucester voters could see that he isn't a snollygoster[…]"
• "[…] 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."