thugduggery

English

Etymology

Blend of thug +‎ skulduggery

Noun

thugduggery (uncountable)

1. unscrupulous behavior or illegal machinations.
   • 1923, The Magazine of Wall Street and Business Analyst:

     Her thugduggery with the mark has not lessened the suspicion with which the world at large regards her.

   • 1932, The New Yorker - Volume 8, page 52:

     "Dancers in the Dark," a temperate underworld concoction involves a shooting and some thugduggery but is mostly concerned with the noble and superior love of a “taxi dancer" (Miriam Hopkins) and a saxophone player.

   • 2004, Ruth Plumly Thompson, Ojo in Oz:

     A fine example you are to a growing boy, with your lawless advice and thugduggery.