ScienceJuly 4, 2026
skulduggery
/skʌlˈdʌɡəri/
Definition
Underhanded, dishonest, or unscrupulous behavior, often involving secrecy and deceit.
Etymology
The word likely originated in the mid-19th century as a variant of the Scottish word 'sculduddery,' which originally referred to fornication or obscenity before evolving to mean general chicanery.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe the cunning and ruthless political tactics associated with the historical advisor Niccolò Machiavelli, who served the powerful Medici family.
Science news this week: James Webb telescope finds a never-before-seen substance, China's 'Great Green Wall' grows faster than natural trees, and a Medici murder mystery is solved
Read the full article ↗Live Science