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panjandrum

[ pan-jan-druh m ]

/ pænˈdʒæn drəm /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR panjandrum ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a self-important or pretentious official.

Origin of panjandrum

1745–55; pseudo-Latin word (based on pan-) coined by Samuel Foote (1720–77), English dramatist and actor

Words nearby panjandrum

panini, panino, paniolo, panivorous, panjabi, panjandrum, panjim, pankhurst, panko, panleukopenia, panlobular emphysema

Example sentences from the Web for panjandrum

I live now for three objects only: to defeat the enemy, to restore the Panjandrum, and to hang my solicitor.

Annajanska, the Bolshevik Empress |George Bernard Shaw
Same thing, I reckon, by all that you tell about that Panjandrum and his goin's on!

The Faith Healer |William Vaughn Moody
Do not deceive yourself, General: never again will a Panjandrum reign in Beotia.

Annajanska, the Bolshevik Empress |George Bernard Shaw
One player is chosen to be the Panjandrum, an important personage requiring a body guard.

Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium |Jessie H. Bancroft

I would have died for my Panjandrum as my father died for his father.

Annajanska, the Bolshevik Empress |George Bernard Shaw

British Dictionary definitions for panjandrum

panjandrum

/ (pænˈdʒændrəm) /

noun

a pompous self-important official or person of rank

Word Origin for panjandrum

C18: after a character, the Grand Panjandrum, in a nonsense work (1755) by Samuel Foote, English playwright and actor