noun
or skull·dug·gery also scul·dug·gery or scull·dug·gery ˌskəlˈdəg(ə)rē, -ri also ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷( ̷ ̷) ̷ ̷
( -es )
Etymology: alteration of sculduddery
1.
a. : dishonest, underhanded, unfair, or unscrupulous behavior or activity
suspects skulduggery in death of Londoner — Saturday Review
counterfeiting is a prehistoric form of gainful skulduggery — St. Clair McKelway
some alleged skulduggery in the state department — Elmer Davis
won over to producing his major shows on the rival chain only by skulduggery — Herman Wouk
b. : proficiency in or a tendency toward such behavior or activity
with such skill and skulduggery that nothing was suspected — Time
the skulduggery in human nature — John Cournos
2. : an instance of skulduggery
a stranger to those skulduggeries which have brought politics into disrepute — New Republic