nogoodnik

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From no good +‎ -nik. Likely influenced by, evolved from, or borrowed directly into Yiddish from the Russian негодник (negodnik, “worthless person, reprobate, ne'er-do-well”)[1]

Pronunciation

Noun

nogoodnik (plural nogoodniks)

  1. (slang, somewhat derogatory) A ne'er-do-well; a person who is no good.
    • 1966 September 24, TV Guide, Radnor, Pa., page 25, column 1:
      Then at the last minute Harris was brought aboard as Dr. Zachary Smith, initially an authentic, lip-curling nogoodnik who, it was presently discovered, could be better used for laughs played off Mumy and a sober-sided robot (“You bubbleheaded booby,” sneers Harris. “That does not compute,” returns the robot dryly).
    • 1984, Martin Amis, Money, Vintage, published 2005, page 182:
      Lorne's role was that of Gary, the nogoodnik father.

Synonyms

References

  1. ^ “Nudnik, Nogoodnik & Nu: Russian Origin of 3 Yiddish Words at Bill Casselman's Canadian Word of the Day & Words of the World” (2007)
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