Pinkerton

/ˈpɪŋkərtən/ noun

Definition

A private detective or security agent, named after the famous Pinkerton Detective Agency which was founded in the 1800s.

Etymology

From Allan Pinkerton (1819-1884), a Scottish-born detective who founded the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in 1850, which became America's first private security firm.

Kelly Says

The Pinkerton Agency pioneered modern detective work and is so famous that 'Pinkerton' became synonymous with private detective—their logo, an eye with 'We Never Sleep,' is the origin of the term 'private eye.'

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