English Explanatory Dictionary

skulduggery

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A devious device or trick.
  2. Dishonest, underhanded, or unscrupulous activities or behaviour.

Pronunciation

/skʌlˈdʌɡəɹi/ /skʌlˈdʌɡɹi/ /ˌskʌlˈdʌɡəɹi/ /ˌskʌlˈdʌɡɹi/ /ˌskəlˈdəɡ-/ en-au-skulduggery.ogg

Word forms

skulduggery skulduggeries sculduggery scullduggery skullduggery

Etymology

An alteration of Scots sculduddery, sculdudrie (“adultery, unchaste behaviour; obscenity, lewdness”), of long-uncertain origin (probably a euphemism). Relation to skull is speculative at best and likely folk etymology. The American spelling skullduggery is in keeping with terms such as skillful and willful.

Synonyms

ruse stratagem subterfuge dishonesty jiggery-pokery thugduggery trickery underhandedness unscrupulousness

Antonyms

honesty probity

Derived words

skulduggerer skulduggerist skulduggerous thugduggery
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