shyster

Meaning

Noun

Someone who acts in a disreputable, unethical, or unscrupulous way, especially in the practice of law and politics.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To act in a disreputable, unethical, or unscrupulous way, especially in the practice of law and politics.
2. (transitive) To exploit (someone or something) in this way.

Synonyms

pettifogger

nit-picker

quibbler

twister

pettifogging lawyer

pettyfogger

Translations

chicaneur

advocaat van kwade zaken

enculeur de mouches

leguleyo

Winkeladvokat

dreihundert

300

Rechtsverdreher

Erbsenzähler

απατεώνας

ασυνείδητος δικηγόρος

δικολάβος

καταφερτζής

κατεργάρης

véreux

aigrefin

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈʃaɪs.tə(ɹ)/

Etymology

US 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 the German Scheißer (“incompetent worthless person”), from scheißen (“to defecate”), probably influenced by -ster. Not related to shylock.