nogoodnik en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /nəʊˈɡʊdnɪk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /noʊˈɡʊdnɪk/ (General-American)
Etymology
Phono-semantic matching of Russian негодник (negodnik, “worthless person, reprobate, ne'er-do-well”) By surface analysis, no good + -nik.
Meanings
-
(US, derogatory, slang) A ne'er-do-well; a person who is no good.
Then at the last minute Harris was brought aboard as Dr. Zachary Smith, initially an authentic, lip-curling nogoodnik who, it was presently discovered, could be better used for laughs played off Mumy and a sober-sided robot (“You bubbleheaded booby,” sneers Harris. “That does not compute,” returns the robot dryly).
1966 September 24, TV Guide, Radnor, Pa., page 25, column 1:Lorne's role was that of Gary, the nogoodnik father.
1984, Martin Amis, Money, Vintage, published 2005, page 182:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| no-goodnik | alternative | lexicographic | |
| nogoodniks | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
nudnik · kibbutznik · -nik