snollygoster

Meaning

Noun

• A shrewd person not guided by principles, especially a politician.

Origin

• 19th-century American English. Possibly from snallygaster, a mythical beast that preys on poultry and children; possibly from Pennsylvania German, from German schnell + Geist.
• Largely obsolete, it briefly resurfaced in 2009 in Britain as part of a debate over MPs' expenses.