doughface
Americannoun
-
a Northerner who sympathized with the South during the controversies over new territories and slavery before the Civil War.
-
a congressman from a northern state not opposed to slavery in the South.
Etymology
Origin of doughface
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The choice went instead to James Buchanan, a colorless Pennsylvania doughface with a long record of party service dating back to Andrew Jackson’s day.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 18, 2018
At the same time, emphasizing Pierce’s status as a doughface threatened to push anti-slavery Democrats into the splinter Free Soil Party, fracturing the party in the North.
From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2012
Not so many, probably, are familiar with the doughface, which, at the time this is written, was a new importation.
From Dave Darrin's Fourth Year at Annapolis by Hancock, H. Irving (Harrie Irving)
"Now, I'll hide this doughface over night," whispered Darrin, going toward Dalzell's bed.
From Dave Darrin's Fourth Year at Annapolis by Hancock, H. Irving (Harrie Irving)
Each honnable doughface gits jest wut he axes, An' the people—their annooal soft sodder an' taxes.
From The Biglow Papers by Hughes, Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
