quisling

American  

[kwiz-ling] / ˈkwɪz lɪŋ /

noun

1. a person who betrays their own country by aiding an invading enemy, often serving later in a puppet government; fifth columnist.

---

quisling British  

/ ˈkwɪzlɪŋ /

noun

1. a traitor who aids an occupying enemy force; collaborator

---

Etymology

Origin of quisling

1940; after Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945), pro-Nazi Norwegian leader

Explanation

A quisling is a traitor, especially one who collaborates with an enemy occupying force for personal gain. The term arose because in World War II, Vidkun Quisling, a Norwegian politician, volunteered to help the occupying Nazis rule Norway for Germany. Quisling was tried for treason and executed at the end of the war, and his name became synonymous with traitor and collaborator. The word quisling is not commonly used in the United States, however, probably because the American term for a traitor is "Benedict Arnold," the name of a Revolutionary War turncoat.

Example Sentences

Nobody likes a Quisling, or, at least, very few people would want to be seen as an eager lickspittle to tyranny.

From Salon • Nov. 1, 2024

In Norway, for example, the Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling ruled as minister president in partnership with Josef Terboven, a German civilian administrator.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

The Nazis controlled Norway in collaboration with the Norwegian Nazi Party, under its leader, Vidkun Quisling.

From BBC • Jan. 27, 2021

“He felt bad that it happened,” Mr. Quisling said of Mr. Maglieri.

From New York Times • May 9, 2017

Mr. Quisling studied the paper a bit before saying, “Interesting form of note-taking you have. Is this how they did it in your previous school?”

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman