abaddon

See also: Abaddon

English

Etymology

UK C19. From Abaddon, from Middle English, from Late Latin, from Ancient Greek Ἀβαδδών (Abaddṓn, “Abaddon”), from Hebrew אבדון (ābaddōn, “destruction, abyss”), from אבד (ābad, “to be lost, to perish”).

Noun

abaddon (plural abaddons)

1. (archaic, British slang) An informer; a criminal who informs on other criminals to the authorities.
   • c. 1839, Report of the Trial of the Great Gold Dust Robbery:

     The prisoner, Money Moses, better known among thieves and fences as Moses the abaddon, has been, to my knowledge, for the last twenty years a receiver and dealer in stolen property.

Synonyms

• grass, nark, stool pigeon, see Thesaurus:informant

References

• Albert Barrère and Charles G[odfrey] Leland, compilers and editors (1889–1890) “abaddon”, in A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant […], volume I (A–K), Edinburgh: […] The Ballantyne Press, →OCLC, page 2.
• John S[tephen] Farmer, compiler (1890) “abaddon”, in Slang and Its Analogues Past and Present. […], volume I, [London: […] Thomas Poulter and Sons] […], →OCLC, page 3.