Shenanigans: Where The Term Comes From

shenanigans (shuh-nan-i-guhn) - noun

Shenanigans means "a deceitful trick" or "underhanded act."

Though now it is always used in the plural, this Americanism for "mischief" or "trickery" was first recorded as shenanigan in 1855, in the San Francisco and Sacramento, California areas.

There have been several suggestions as to its ancestors, including the Spanish chanada, meaning "trick," and the argot German schinaglen, meaning the same.

More likely it comes from the Irish sionnachuighim, "I play the fox," or "I play tricks."

Comments

[Steve]

I call sionnachuighims!

[Shay]

Cool!
Sarah and I were discussing this just a couple of weeks ago. I assumed Irish origins, but she was dubious. As you say, my hypothesis is most likely true, but in the absence of more definitive proof, we called it a draw. :)

Happy Tuesday J-Boom!

~Shay

[Conan776]

Definitely an Irish origin, imo