Snollygoster's

[Soph0571]

Heard a chap use this to describe BoJo on the radio today and of course went to look it up as I have never heard the word before. How fitting a descriptor for both Trump and Boris.
Based on the four most common dictionary definitions..

Brilliant word!

[Newest Reality]

1. Etymology...

I was wondering what the origin of the word was:

According to Merriam-Webster:

History and Etymology for snollygoster

probably alteration of snallygaster a mythical creature that preys on poultry and children

[sinkingfeeling]

2. I used the term for Dubya.

[JCannon]

3. Slightly wrong word

First, if you are pluralizing the word, you should not use a possessive apostrophe. Snollygosters. Not "Snollygoster's."

Second, the actual word is SNALLYGASTER.

That is the name of a mythical monster said to haunt the woods of Maryland, the state in which I live. In folklore, the creature is said to be half-bird and half-reptile. The term derives from schnelle geeschter, Luxembourgish for “quick spirits.” (Luxembourgish was a German dialect spoken by some early settlers in this area.)

The snallygaster was never a serious cryptid. It's more like the jackalope or the hodag, in that nobody really believed in the creature but everyone knew about it. A hundred years ago, mothers in Maryland would warn their kids "Come home before dark or the snallygaster will get you." Both mother and kids understood that this warning was a joke.

For a while in the early 1970s, there were bigfoot reports in Maryland, and the word "snallygaster" showed up in a few news accounts. (The term "bigfoot" had not yet caught on in east coast states.) Today, most Marylanders have never heard of the snallygaster, although a few older people may smile with recognition if you mention that word.

I have no idea why someone decided to apply a misspelled version of the word to political miscreants.

[Soph0571]

4. First, if you are pluralizing the word, you should not use a possessive apostrophe. Snollygosters.

Terribly sorry if my grammar offends. Pip pip and tally ho!

[UniteFightBack]

5. They're also a couple of Cock wombles on the prowl. Emphasis on the former. nt