Dictionary

skulduggerous en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˌskʌlˈdʌɡəɹəs/ (General-American)
• /ˌskəlˈdəɡ-/ (General-American)
• /skʌlˈdʌɡəɹəs/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From skulduggery + -ous.

Meanings

1. (rare) Involving skulduggery; tricky, underhand.
   • I wanted to sully the hedgehog's pudsy, fuddlesome reputation and discover that the females were somehow harlots and the males were skulduggerous peddlers of filth. 2014, Jules Howard, “The Greatest Story Never Told” (chapter 12), in Sex on Earth: A Celebration of Animal Reproduction, New York City: Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 215:
   • In their hopes of overthrowing an unjust society, many of these groups held to romantic models of secret conspiratorial organisations. This skulduggerous, dashing lineage was reflected in the elusive, allusive poetry of some of their names: the Society of the Families; the Society of Seasons; the Leage of the Proscribed. 2022, China Miéville, chapter 2, in A Spectre, Haunting: On the Communist Manifesto, →OCLC:
   • You feel slimy and skulduggerous. You feel nervous that they'll return unexpectedly and catch you at something nefarious, even if the someone is in jail. 2010 [1997], Stephen Greenleaf, Past Tense, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 47:
   • A number of skulduggerous means were used, including hoarding its rival's banknotes. 2015, Ian Fraser, Shredded: Inside RBS: The Bank that Broke Britain, Birlinn, →ISBN:

Forms