The Wednesday Word - panjandrum

Today’s word is panjandrum. It is basically a word to describe a pretentious official, you know the type that carry around a clip board in the office, or at a carnival noting down every little discrepancy between how things should be and how they actually are.

The origins of the word are quite incredible, as it was coined by Samuel Foot in the 18 century in a piece of nonsense writing (this is what they did before they had the internet). I have included the full nonsense writing quote below, but here is my quote for it:

“He had held the self-appointed position of High Panjandrum on the church wardens committee for the last 30 years, and he wasn’t about to let some young upstart with the brains of a potplant carry out a coup-d’état on his revered place at the right hand of the Vicar.”

Check out the original Wednesday Word, or many other Wednesday Words here.

Feel free to let me know if you ever come across a word you think may be appropriate for this part of my blog.