snollygoster

noun

snol·​ly·​gos·​ter ˈsnä-lē-ˌgä-stər 

US dialect

: a shrewd, unprincipled person

Truman and Acheson seasoned their correspondence with perceptive comments about the major figures of the day. Truman lamented that Dwight Eisenhower had given in to congressional "snollygosters"—unprincipled politicians.

—Orme Wilson

Word History

Etymology

probably alteration of snallygaster a mythical creature that preys on poultry and children

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above