This week’s theme
Words to describe people

This week’s words
snollygoster
highbinder
wirepuller
four-flusher
jackleg

This week’s comments
AWADmail 815

Next week’s theme
People who became verbs

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(JAK-leg)

MEANING:

adjective: Unskilled; unscrupulous; incompetent.
noun: An unskilled or unscrupulous worker.

ETYMOLOGY:

From jack (man, worker) + blackleg. Earliest documented use: 1839.

USAGE:

“A reader emailed: ‘You forgot to mention how the jackleg preachers told you to put your hand on the radio to get your blessing and send $100, $50, $25, $10, $5, or $1 for the kind of blessing you want.’”
Alonzo Kitterls; Thanks for Sharing Memories and Let’s Share More; Philadelphia Tribune (Pennsylvania); Jan 4, 2015.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: