This week's theme
Eponyms

This week's words
boswell
quisling
schlemiel
augean
celadon

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(KWIZ-ling)

MEANING:

noun: A traitor, especially one who aids an invading enemy.

ETYMOLOGY:

After Major Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945), Norwegian army officer who collaborated (1940-1945) with the German occupying forces during World War II and ruled Norway as head of the puppet government. He was shot for treason after the German defeat. Earliest documented use: 1940.

NOTES:

Benedict Arnold was another army officer whose name has turned into an eponym as a synonym for a traitor.

USAGE:

"Zoran Djindjic will be remembered as a quisling who enriched himself by selling his country to those who had waged war against it."
Neil Clark; The Quisling of Belgrade; The Guardian (London, UK); Mar 13, 2003.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: