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

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

A Georgia editor kindly explains that 'a snollygoster is a fellow who wants office regardless of party, platform or principles and who, whenever he wins, gets there by the sheer force of monumental talknothical assumnacy.'

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From Time Magazine Archive