mugwump English · revision 1951

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmʌɡwʌmp/ ''(UK)''; /ˈmʌɡˌwʌmp/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Massachusett (Natick) ''mugquomp'' “important person”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''muggumquomp'' “war leader”.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The Natick form ''mugquomp'' “great man” is recorded in 1633.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A jocular term for a great man or boss (1832, American English).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By 1840 the word was used satirically for someone who thinks himself important.^(Etymonline) In 1884 it was revived for the Republicans who refused to support the party's presidential candidate, James G. Blaine;^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) it began as abuse, but the independents adopted it.^(Etymonline) So it came to mean a person who stays aloof from party politics,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) or anyone neutral or undecided.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1832 – a great man, a boss.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1840 – a self-important person.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1884 – a Republican who bolted the party.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD)

+ * 1885 – verb, to act as a mugwump.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who acts independently or stays neutral, especially in politics.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(US history)'' A Republican who refused to support James G. Blaine in 1884.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A leader or important person.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mugwumpery]]

+ * [[mugwumpish]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[maverick]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}