Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

buggins's turn

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables
bug-gin-s's -turn
IPA
16
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
4
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A humorous, disparaging term for the appointment of a person by rotation or promotion, on the basis of length of service (it being that person's "turn") rather than merit or level of qualification.

British usage

Example Sentences

Etymology

Earliest recorded use is by Admiral Fisher, later First Sea Lord, in a 1901 letter. 'Buggins' is a humorous invented surname, suggestive of a man of mediocre ability.

Usage

Questions

What does buggins's turn mean?
A humorous, disparaging term for the appointment of a person by rotation or promotion, on the basis of length of service (it being that person's "turn") rather than merit or level of qualification.
Where does buggins's turn come from?
Earliest recorded use is by Admiral Fisher, later First Sea Lord, in a 1901 letter. 'Buggins' is a humorous invented surname, suggestive of a man of mediocre ability.

How to pronounce buggins's turn

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