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quisling

[kwiz-ling]
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noun
  1. a person who betrays his or her own country by aiding an invading enemy, often serving later in a puppet government; fifth columnist.
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Origin of quisling

1940; after Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945), pro-Nazi Norwegian leader
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for quisling

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Stan was beginning to get the idea that the Dutch Quisling disliked the military.

  • Stan resolved that he was going to be one guest who fooled the Dutch Quisling.

  • Those who were destined for execution as soon as a quisling government was formed, were also not entitled to depart on the liner.

    Talents, Incorporated

    William Fitzgerald Jenkins

British Dictionary definitions for quisling

quisling

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

C20: after Major Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945), Norwegian collaborator with the Nazis
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for quisling

n.

1940, from Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945), Norwegian fascist politician who headed the puppet government during the German occupation of Norway in World War II; shot for treason after German defeat. First used in London Times of April 15, 1940, in a Swedish context.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper