Word of the Day

Sunday, July 09, 2006

quisling

\KWIZ-ling\ , noun;

Someone who collaborates with an enemy occupying his or her country; a traitor.

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Quotes:

In the clutches of Herod, a quisling whom even his Roman paymasters despise, John is an all-too-perfect personification of Israel under Roman rule abetted by Jewish collaboration.

-- Jack Miles, Christ : A Crisis in the Life of God

This circle had already closed ranks around Tito in the prewar period of illegal struggle, and our ensuing sacrifices, our suffering, the exploits of both Party and people as they made war against the Nazi and Fascist occupiers and their quislings and supporters, had only further toughened and hardened the leaders.

-- Milovan Djilas, Fall of the New Class

Origin:

A quisling is so called after Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945), Norwegian politician and officer who collaborated with the Nazis.