What's the origin of Snollygoster?

'Snollygoster', a word for "an unprincipled but shrewd person," might derive from the word 'snallygaster', which is used to describe a mythical creature from rural Maryland that is half reptile and half bird.

Where does the word Snollygoster come from?

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”).

When was the word Snollygoster invented?

First print appearance in 1846, in the Frankfort (Kentucky) Commonwealth: “Now here I am a rale propelling, double revolving locomotive Snolly Goster, ready to attack anything.” (Source: Hatchet Jobs and Hardball: The Oxford Dictionary of American Political Slang.

What is a slubberdegullion?

slubberdegullion (plural slubberdegullions) A filthy, slobbering person; a sloven, a villain, a fiend, a louse. A worthless person. A drunken or alcoholic person.

What is a Throttlebottom?

Noun. throttlebottom (plural throttlebottoms) (derogatory) An incompetent holder of a public office.

What's a snollygoster? A short lesson in political speak - Mark Forsyth

What is a Bedswerver?

bedswerver (plural bedswervers) One who is unfaithful to the marriage vow.

What is a Ninnyhammer?

Noun. ninnyhammer (plural ninnyhammers) a foolish person; a simpleton quotations ▼

What is a Tatterdemalion?

tatterdemalion • \tatt-er-dih-MAIL-yun\ • adjective. 1 : ragged or disreputable in appearance 2 : being in a decayed state or condition : dilapidated.

What is a Spudder?

spud·​der. ˈspədə(r) plural -s. : one that sets up and operates a well-drilling machine. : a light duty drilling rig used primarily to start a new well.

What is a scobberlotcher?

Noun. scobberlotcher (plural scobberlotchers) An idle person.

What is a Cattywampus?

Definition - askew, awry, kitty-corner. Cattywampus is a variant of catawampus, another example of grand 19th century American slang. In addition to “askew” catawampus may refer to “an imaginary fierce wild animal,” or may mean “savage, destructive.”

What does it mean to Cattywampus?

(also cattywampus, us/ˌkæt̬.iˈwɑːm.pəs/ uk/ˌkæt.iˈwɒm.pəs/) going badly, awkwardly, or in the wrong direction: The script is spoiled by its catawampus rhythms and its lack of consistency and plausibility. I didn't need this, especially on a morning when everything else had already started out going cattywampus.

What is codswallop mean?

Noun. codswallop (uncountable) (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, slang) Senseless talk or writing; nonsense; rubbish.

Do Germans still say geil?

Yes, it is rather informal but it is widely used among young people all over Germany and in most of the cases, geil simply means awesome/cool/great rather than referring to its other, somehow derogative meanings.

What is Crapulous person?

crapulous (comparative more crapulous, superlative most crapulous) Characterized by excessive eating or drinking. synonyms ▲ Synonyms: debauched, intemperate. Suffering physically from the consequences of excessive eating or drinking. Surcharged with liquor; sick from excessive indulgence in drinking or eating.

What is the origin of Cattywampus?

When it was first used in the U.S. around 1834 as an adverb, it meant “completely, utterly or avidly.” It first appeared as a noun (catawampus) in Dickens' Martin Chuzzlewit (1843), though it probably was first recorded as a noun in American works shortly before that.

Why is it called spudding a well?

The bit used to drive that guide pipe was a blunt-ended drilling device called a spud bit. Because of that process, those drilling machines came to be called “spudders” and from it developed the term “spudding,” or “spudding in,” to identify the beginning process of drilling an oil well.

What does sputter mean synonym?

Definitions of sputter. verb. spit up in an explosive manner. synonyms: spit out, splutter. type of: cough out, cough up, expectorate, spit out, spit up.

What part of speech is splutter?

Verb She coughed and spluttered as she climbed out of the icy water. When I demanded an explanation, he just stood there spluttering. “Th-that's simply not true,” he spluttered.

What's a balderdash?

something that is stupid or not true: "Balderdash!" he spluttered indignantly. Synonyms. nonsense. piffle old-fashioned informal.

Who is a Dastard?

noun. das·​tard ˈda-stərd. Synonyms of dastard. : coward. : a person who acts treacherously or underhandedly.

What does a balderdash?

senseless, stupid, or exaggerated talk or writing; nonsense. obsolete.

Is Flapdoodle a slang?

flapdoodle. / (ˈflæpˌduːdəl) / noun. slang foolish talk; nonsense.

What is a Bumfuzzle?

bum·​fuz·​zled ˈbəm-ˌfə-zəld. US, informal. : in a state of bewilderment : confused or perplexed. Elliott seemed a little bumfuzzled by the negativity, saying he had received a lot of offers of various kinds of help for the ballpark.

What is Whopperjawed?

Perhaps being "whopper jawed" meant having a large jaw, which would be an unattractive look for a girl. Thus, it would be a way of saying "you look ugly".