Boris Johnson launched a bizarre linguistic attack on Jeremy Corbyn, warning that voters shouldn’t be lulled into thinking Corbyn was a “mutton-headed old mugwump” who was essentially harmless.
?? #mugwump not really a massive insult whichever definition you use – independent of party politics, big chief, Democrat
— Erinna Mettler (@ErinnaMettler) April 27, 2017
Mutton haired Mugwump! Probably the best insult that I've heard in years! #mugwump
— Darren Foster (@Dazfoz) April 27, 2017
Regardless of what #mugwump means, we can all come together and stand united under the fact that it's a funny sounding word
— John Reid (@JohnKenR) April 27, 2017
Social media is now ablaze with chatter of what the word actually means and whether it’s a good or bad thing – so here’s a brief rundown of all the things you need to know to make your own mind up:What’s the history of mugwump?
So Boris Johnson just called Corbyn a #mugwump as some kind of insult. Origin of the word – Great Chief
Boris Johnson – Moron.
— Darius (@CaldwelJames) April 27, 2017
Mugwump is a native American term for a war leader, which was taken up in the 1880s to describe members of the US Republican party who switched parties to support Democrat presidential candidate Grover Cleveland.So it’s a compliment?
@BBCr4today #Brexit turncoat Boris on #r4today – relentlessly pursuing his #mugwump agenda. Clearly hasn't Googled himself or seen a mirror
— Josephine (@Snogbird) April 27, 2017
Well some time afterwards, the meaning did shift and the word was used in the US to describe a political turncoat – someone who shifts allegiance from one ideal or party to another.So it must be an insult then?
@RC_Garrick The supreme Mugwump is the head of the international confederation of wizards in Harry Potter. #BackHandedCompliment?
— Steve Griffiths Lab (@SteveGforUndy) April 27, 2017
Perhaps not. The term also appeared in the bestselling Harry Potter series, to describe members of the International Confederation of Wizards – of which the character Albus Dumbledore was appointed the Supreme Mugwump (and that’s a pretty big deal).Anything else we need to know?
Who'd have cast Boris Johnson as a Naked Lunch fan? #mugwump #GE2017
— Mark Chadbourn (@Chadbourn) April 27, 2017
Mugwumps featured in the graphic and surrealistic novel Naked Lunch by Beat Generation writer William Burroughs – filmed by David Cronenberg in 1991 – as a bizarre and reptilian alien species. Not exactly a compliment.Let’s settle this – what does Susie Dent make of it?
Mugwump: an old and mocking Massachusetts term for a bigwig who, particularly in politics, is non-committal, aloof, or fickle. #r4today
— Susie Dent (@susie_dent) April 27, 2017
According to everyone’s favourite lexical aficionado, it’s not a very flattering thing to be called after all.And who are we to question Dictionary Corner?
