Word Origins

 *SHENANIGAN

Many sources have suggested this Americanism originated in California during or soon after the Gold Rush. The first recorded use was in that state in 1855. As the word has the sense of “trickery, deceit," specifically for an underhand purpose, possible sources suggest it has had similar meanings, such as the Spanish chanada, “a trick,” and the Irish sionnachuighim, “I play tricks.” However, a derivation from the German schinnagel, means "the nail holding the rim to the wheel" (schinageln, "to work," and Schenigelei, "a trick.")

*Inspired by Charles Funk (1881–1957)