Shuysters and Skinners (1845)

[Cohen, Gerald Leonard]

The meaning of "shuyster" in the Civil War letter below does not fit any of the usual meanings of "shyster." The soldier is using the term in the meaning "shirker," and so he must have associated "shyster" with "shy" in the expression "fight shy of" (avoid). In fact, "fight shy of" is one of the various incorrect etymologies given for the term "shyster"; the lawyer takes his client's money and then fights shy of him.

Gerald Cohen

        Original message from Benjamin Zimmer, June, 6, 2005:
> There's another cite for "shuyster" on N-archive, in a reprinted letter from a Civil War soldier who fought at Gettsyburg (no date given, but presumably 1863).  The letter was in the possession of the soldier's
> great-grandson.
>
> -----
> _Gettysburg Times_ (Pa.), Aug. 2, 1990, p. 5A, col. 2
> [Lt. Isaac Newton Durboraw:] "I did not find many of the people in the neighborhood at their homes, and their houses were occupied by skulkers and shuysters absent from their commands. When I got back to the company I shared out the contents of my haversack, and when we marched that night, it was empty."
> -----
        <snip>