shyster
Someone who acts in a disreputable, unethical, or unscrupulous way, especially in the…Someone who acts in a disreputable, unethical, or unscrupulous way, especially in the practice of law and politics.
Meaning
1 sensesSomeone who acts in a disreputable, unethical, or unscrupulous way, especially in the practice of law and politics.
Gauner, Rechtsverdreher, Winkeladvokat
мерзавецmerzavec, мерзавкаmerzavka
a person (especially a lawyer or politician) who uses unscrupulous or unethical methods
Translations
3 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
US origin, 19th century. The etymology of the word is not generally agreed upon. The OxforUS origin, 19th century. The etymology of the word is not generally agreed upon. The Oxford English Dictionary describes it as "of obscure origin," possibly deriving from a historical sense of shy meaning "disreputable", equivalent to shy + -ster. Other sources suggest the word derives from shicer, from the German Scheißer (“incompetent worthless person”), from scheißen (“to defecate”), probably influenced by -ster. Not related to shylock.
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Forms
plural: shystersSynonyms
1 synonyms- a person (especially a lawyer or politician) who uses unscrupulous or unethical methods:pettifogger