snollygoster

American  

[snol-ee-gos-ter] / ˈsnɒl iˌgɒs tər /

noun

Slang.

1. a clever, unscrupulous person.

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Etymology

Origin of snollygoster

First recorded in 1845–50; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

In his social media posts, he loves to sprinkle in a few 25-cent words such as “farrago” or even “snollygoster.”

From New York Times

And who might the lexicographers have had in mind a month ago when they reported that they added back to the dictionary the word “snollygoster, ‘a shrewd & unprincipled person, especially an unprincipled politician’ ”?

From Washington Post

Imagine my delight yesterday when I caught sight of 'snollygoster', my adopted rare word from Save The Words, in the Fiver – used in a perfectly good sentence no less.

From The Guardian

I believe that the word "snollygoster" is a degeneration of this expression .

From Time Magazine Archive

Mr. Truman's tone left no doubt that a snollygoster was a low creature indeed, but few, if any, of his hearers knew what snollygoster meant.

From Time Magazine Archive