jiggery-pokery

(jig′ər ē pōk′ər ē)

noun

Chiefly Brit., Informal trickery or deception; hanky-panky

Origin: altered < Scot joukery-paukery, rhyming slang < IE *joukerie, trickery < *joukere, a cheater < *jouk, a dodge, dart < ?

See jiggery-pokery in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Underhand scheming or behavior: “By some legal—or perhaps illegal—jiggery-pokery, he could declare the election void” (John Hughes).

Origin:

Origin: Alteration of joukery-pawkery

Origin: : from Scots jouk, to dodge (probably from duck²)

Origin: + Scots pawk, trick

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD