Secret scheming, plotting, or intrigue; sneaky political maneuvering to gain power or advantage.
Borrowed from French 'brigue,' which comes from Italian 'briga' meaning 'quarrel' or 'strife.' The word entered English in the 16th century to describe underhand dealings in court politics.
The word 'brigue' was especially popular during the Renaissance and Baroque periods when European courts were hotbeds of political intrigue—it perfectly captured the scheming atmosphere of places like the Vatican and French royal courts.
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