scuggery

English

Alternative forms

• skuggery

Etymology

scug +‎ -ery

Noun

scuggery (uncountable)

1. (rare, derogatory) Dishonest behaviour; criminal conduct; villainy
   • 1867, One of the "ring", “Document Number 20 History of the Champaign "Elephant"”, in The Movement for Industrial Education and the Establishment of the University 1840-1870 (Semi-Centennial History of the University of Illinois; I), Urbana: University of Illinois, published 1918, page 506:

     The exposure is rich, racy and instructive. It fully corroborates all the statements of corruption, rascality and "scuggery" made by Professor Turner in his recently published report, and will convince the public that the corruption of the recent legislature of Illinois has not one-half been told.

   • 1923, Archibald Marshall, Jimmy the New Boy, Frederick A. Stokes Co., page 33:

     "When I'm boss of this dormitory I'll stop that sort of scuggery." // "Scuggery" was a Whyborough word used to indicate anything unsportsmanlike.

   • 1978 June 30, House of Commons [Canada] Debate, 30th Parliament, 3rd Session, volume 6, page 6945:

     the Minister of State for Urban Affairs (Mr. Ouellet) does not care about national unity but will use any kind of skullduggery, thuggery and skuggery to try to keep in office, […]

   • 2002, Patricia Frances Rowell, A Perilous Attraction (Harlequin Historicals)‎^[1], Harlequin, published 2014, →ISBN:

     "I want to see the slam-thrash that's done them bloody murders caught," […] "no matter who. We've had no such scuggery in the Dales since I can remember."