What is the origin of skullduggery & skullduddery?

[broompilot]

Greetings everyone,

The word skullduggery (skulduggery) surfaced in an
online discussion and one person said she couldn't find
any information on the WWW about the origin of the word.

I looked and only found:

"dishonest practices: unfair and dishonest practices carried out in a secretive way in order to trick other people ( humorous )

[Mid-19th century. Alteration of sculduddery "sexual impropriety, indecency," origin ?]"


I only found 1 definition of skulduddery and that echoed
the reference above. I only know of 1 etymology site and
looking up these two words is the first time it has told
me nothing found.

Any clues?

Thanks,

David

[mehlindi]

Skullduddery is originally a Scots work from the early 18th Century meaning lewd behaviour. Skullduggery is merely a corruption of that, and the meaning altered to include underhanded or devious action.

[Quizmonster]

According to The Oxford English Dictionary - the 'bible' in such matters - the origin of the word (in either form) is unknown. So, it is unsurprising that the woman could find no information on that origin. In Scotland and America it referred specifically to the 'sins' of fornication and adultery when brought before a religious court'