shenanigan
English
/ʃəˈnænɪɡən/
noun
Definitions
- (countable) A deceitful confidence trick, or mischief causing discomfort or annoyance.
- (uncountable) .
Etymology
Derived from French ces manigances, manigance (these fraudulent schemes) derived from Spanish, Castilian chanada derived from Irish sionnachuighim (I play the fox) derived from Rhine Franconian schinägeln (work hard) derived from German Scheinheiligens (sham holy men sham holy actions).
Origin
German (Berlin)
Scheinheiligens
Gloss
sham holy men sham holy actions
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- -ry English
- shenaniganery English
- shenaniganry English
- shenanigans English
- Scheinheiligens German
- ces manigances, manigance French
- chanada Spanish, Castilian
- sionnachuighim Irish
- schinägeln Rhine Franconian