WHIFFMAGIG

Daily Word Quiz
 
SCROYLE
a) a crowd of people; a herd of horses or other animals
b) a mean fellow; a rascal; a scoundrel
c) a standing dead tree
d) a malingerer, or one who avoids duty
 
Answer below.
 
 Today's Featured Word: WHIFFMAGIG
 
NOUN
1. a trifler; an insignificant, contemptible person;
a mean, paltry person ...1871
2. a shifty or evasive person; a base person ...1871
 
ETYMOLOGY
variant of whiffler a trifler, an insignificant or contemptible person
 
FIRST DOCUMENTED USE
1871 - see EXAMPLE below
 
EXAMPLE
"... Plenty of foreign whiffmagigs are to be found,
but you won't come upon a fellow like that."
 
From: The Adventures of Harry Richmond
By: George Meredith, 1871
  
Daily Word Quiz Answer
 
SCROYLE b) a mean fellow; a rascal; a scoundrel ...1595 obs.