interesting etymology for shenanigans (wiki anyway)

Etymology

Of uncertain origin. Earliest known use comes from San Francisco in 1855 at the time of the California Gold Rush. These possibilities have been suggested:

French ces manigances (“these fraudulent schemes”).

Spanish chanada, shortening of charranada (“trick, deceit”).

Irish sionnachuighim (“I play the fox”).

Rhine Franconian schinägeln (“to work hard”), from the peddler's argot term Schenigelei (“work”).

East Anglian dialect nannicking (“playing the fool”).

18th century German Scheinheiligens (“sham holy men / sham holy actions”, noun plural), scheinheilig (“hypocritical”)

Posted By: Tombs, Apr 21, 20:43:32