shenanigan
[shuh-nan-i-guh n]
- Usually shenanigans.
- mischief; prankishness: Halloween shenanigans.
- deceit; trickery.
- a mischievous or deceitful trick, practice, etc.
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Origin of shenanigan
An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; of obscure origin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
horseplaygagescapadeanticmisbehaviortransgressionwrongdoingmisconductprankcapershineplayfrolicshenanigansjokehotfootfancylevitytrickwhimExamples from the Web for shenanigan
Historical Examples
I'll darn soon show ye what's the matter with me, you come any o' your shenanigan around here.
Back HomeEugene Wood
He was a bold man who attempted any shenanigan with Mart Haney, and the games of his halls were reported honest.
Money MagicHamlin Garland
shenanigan
- (usually plural) roguishness; mischief
- an act of treachery; deception
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Word Origin
C19: of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for shenanigan
n.
1855, of uncertain origin. Earliest records of it are in San Francisco and Sacramento, California, U.S. Suggestions include Spanish chanada, a shortened form of charranada "trick, deceit;" or, less likely, German Schenigelei, peddler's argot for "work, craft," or the related German slang verb schinäglen. Another guess centers on Irish sionnach "fox."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper