Fainaigue

/ˌfeɪnɛɡ/ verb

Definition

To shirk work, idle, or engage in petty trickery; to avoid responsibility through clever excuses or minimal effort.

Etymology

From French 'finaiguer', possibly connected to 'finaud' (cunning person). The term has military origins, referring to soldiers who dodged their duties through clever schemes.

Kelly Says

This word comes from French military slang—soldiers used 'finaiguer' to describe buddies who dodged work through cunning tricks rather than outright refusal, and the term spread throughout French-speaking armies!

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