pecksniffery

noun

peck·​sniff·​ery

ˈpekˌsnifərē

variants or pecksniffianism

pekˈsnifēəˌnizəm

plural pecksnifferies or pecksniffianisms

often capitalized

: the quality or state of being pecksniffian

the national pecksniffery

—H. L. Mencken

Word History

Etymology

pecksniffery from Seth Pecksniff, character in Martin Chuzzlewit (1843–44) by Charles Dickens †1870 English novelist + English -ery; pecksniffianism from pecksniffian + -ism

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