From the AHD:

1. A person who sells services to employers without a long-term commitment to any of them.

2. An uncommitted independent, as in politics or social life.

3. A medieval mercenary.

So originally this word meant ‘a gun for hire’, a kind of landsknecht or condottiere.

Now they changed the lance for a sharp pen.

We had a word, I think for a kind of renegade politician, but I can’t remember which one. Or had we not?

-norio

We had a word, I think for a kind of renegade politician, but I can’t remember which one.

Maverick?

- PW

maverick? I’m not sure, perhaps it came in the context of gerrymandering.

perhaps it’s all a figment of imagination…

-norio

Check out what the Online Etymology Dictionary has to say concerning the origins of this word ; other entries on the same page—in particular one regarding a word which cannot be reproduced here—will repay perusal….

Henri