Shyster

[Steve]

Some time back, perhaps here or at dslr, there was an interesting post concerning the origin of the derogatory term for lawyers, "shyster".

Anyone got that info?

[ethics]

http://cs.anu.edu.au/software/shyster/book/etymology.pdf

[joseftu]

Well, the etymology provided by Webster in that link is pretty fanciful, and unsupported, but possible, I suppose.

Webster's effort is another possibility, but I don't find it very convincing, either, as the OED shows an earliest usage of 1844--at which time it seems to have been common enough to be completely understandable as a generic term. Here's the full OED entry.
[Of obscure origin.
<SMALL>It might be f. <NOBR><!--open_smallcaps--><SMALL>SHY</SMALL><!--close_smallcaps--> (http://lib2.bmcc.cuny.edu:2142/cgi/crossref?query_type=word&queryword=shyster&edition=2e&first=1&max_to_show=10&single=1&sort_type=alpha&xrefed=OED&xrefword=shy&ps=a.)</NOBR> a. (sense 7, disreputable) + -ster; but this sense of the adj. is app. not current in the U.S.</SMALL>] <!--end_dg-->
<!--start_def-->1. ‘A lawyer who practises in an unprofessional or tricky manner; especially, one who haunts the prisons and lower courts to prey on petty criminals; hence, any one who conducts his business in a tricky manner’ (Funk's Stand. Dict. 1895). Also attrib. or adj. orig. and chiefly U.S.<!--end_def-->

<SMALL><!--start_q--><NOBR><!--start_ed--><!--start_d-->1844<!--end_d--><!--end_ed--></NOBR> <!--start_ea--><!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->G. W<SMALL>ILKES</SMALL><!--close_smallcaps--><!--end_a--><!--end_ea--> <!--start_ew--><!--start_w-->Mysteries of Tombs<!--end_w--><!--end_ew--> 44/1 <!--start_qt-->He is consulted by the magistrates on all important points of law, and the inferior shysters look upon him with a reverence approaching veneration.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><NOBR><!--start_d-->1849<!--end_d--></NOBR> <!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->G. G. F<SMALL>OSTER</SMALL><!--close_smallcaps--><!--end_a--> <!--start_w-->New York in Slices<!--end_w--> 20 <!--start_qt-->He must..wait next day for the visits of the ‘shyster’ <NOBR>lawyershttp://lib2.bmcc.cuny.edu:2142/graphics/parser/gifs/sp/em.gifa</NOBR> set of turkey-buzzards whose touch is pollution and whose breath is pestilence.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><NOBR><!--start_d-->1856<!--end_d--></NOBR> <!--start_w-->Knickerb. Mag.<!--end_w--> Apr. XLVII. 434 (Thornton Amer. Gloss.) <!--start_qt-->If these two ‘shuysters’ on the other side could get one more drink down your throat, you couldn't travel at all.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><NOBR><!--start_d-->1857<!--end_d--></NOBR> <!--start_w-->N.Y. Tribune<!--end_w--> 13 Mar. (Bartlett 1860) <!--start_qt-->The shysters, or Tombs lawyers, were on hand, and sought to intercede for their clients.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><NOBR><!--start_d-->a1860<!--end_d--></NOBR> <!--start_w-->N.Y. Tribune<!--end_w--> (ibid.), <!--start_qt-->When a man or woman is thrown into prison, a shyster leech gets access to him, and extorts from him his last cent under the pretence of obtaining his liberation.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><NOBR><!--start_d-->1877<!--end_d--></NOBR> <!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->B<SMALL>LACK</SMALL><!--close_smallcaps--> (http://lib2.bmcc.cuny.edu:2142/help/bib/oed2-b2.html#black)<!--end_a--> <!--start_w-->Green Past.<!--end_w--> xli, <!--start_qt-->They..looked on a prominent civic official as a mere shyster.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><NOBR><!--start_d-->1902<!--end_d--></NOBR> <!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->B<SMALL>OOTHBY</SMALL><!--close_smallcaps--><!--end_a--> <!--start_w-->Uncle Joe's Legacy<!--end_w--> 98 <!--start_qt-->The shyster lawyer.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><NOBR><!--start_d-->1943<!--end_d--></NOBR> <!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->M. H. H<SMALL>ARRIS</SMALL><!--close_smallcaps--><!--end_a--> <!--start_w-->Vegetative Eye<!--end_w--> 15 <!--start_qt-->Not to Memory, with its shyster lackey, Association.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><NOBR><!--start_d-->1952<!--end_d--></NOBR> <!--start_w-->Manch. Guardian Weekly<!--end_w--> 19 June 3 <!--start_qt-->They call Taft's ‘shyster methods’ so necessary.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><NOBR><!--start_d-->1961<!--end_d--></NOBR> <!--start_w-->Listener<!--end_w--> 14 Dec. 1046/1 <!--start_qt-->A solicitor's chief clerk who persuades his shyster employer to leave the country to avoid embezzlement charges.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><NOBR><!--start_d-->1981<!--end_d--></NOBR> <!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->J. W<SMALL>AINWRIGHT</SMALL><!--close_smallcaps--> (http://lib2.bmcc.cuny.edu:2142/help/bib/oed2-w.html#j-wainwright)<!--end_a--> <!--start_w-->All on Summer's Day<!--end_w--> 31 <!--start_qt-->The shyster lawyers..swear blind the client's been manhandled while in police custody.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--></SMALL>

[Stiofán]

I just assumed it was John Edwards middle name.

OK, that was too easy I admit, but when one opponent is Dubya and the other a Dick, I get a little defensive. ;)