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by notmrjohn on April 28th, 2005

notmrjohn

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What's the etymology of "scofflaw"?

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  • by Alatea on April 19th, 2006

    Alatea

    From the net.

    Scofflaw - "One Who Does Not Pay Parking Tickets or Other Government Fines or Refuses to Appear in Court." This term dates back to the Prohibition Era when it denoted one who disregarded the law and produced or sold alchohol. It can signify anyone who disregards the law but has special reference to those who do not pay fines or intentionally miss court dates. The word is a noun formation from "one who scoffs at the law."

    “Scofflaw” is now what people are called who don’t pay their parking tickets. However, the word “scofflaw” began as the winning word in a Prohibition-era contest to find a name for the illegal drinker.

    11 October 1952, New York Times, pg. 21

    Another traffic violator, William James Tierney, 31, a salesman of 40 Birch Avenue, Farmingdale, N.J., did not fare so well as Mr. Friedman. Calling Tierney a “scofflaw,” the Chief Magistrate fined him $360 and sent him away for fifteen days.

    http://www.barrypopik.com/article/484/scofflaw

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