Dynamitard

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Illustrated Police News, London, 21 February 1885

A dynamitard was a person who used explosives for violence against the State, and is a niche metaphor for a revolutionary in politics, culture or social affairs.

Bombers

First appearing in English language newspapers in 1882,[1][2][3] the word was understood to be a French expression applied to political terrorists in France.[4] In reality, dynamitard is not a formal French word; French newspapers had conjured it up as a disdainful variant of dynamiteur.[5] It was soon applied to Burton and Cunningham,[6] Irish-Americans who had planted explosives in London.[4][7] "A term of opprobrium for some and endearment for others, the dynamitard was technically a political dynamiter, of the kind that bombed railway carriages and exploded devices in the House of Commons in the name of Irish freedom, chiefly in the early 1880s."[8]

Metaphorical sense

In nineteenth century politics the term came to be used, particularly by George Bernard Shaw, as metonymy for those who chose violent struggle — as opposed to gradual means — for achieving social revolution: a dynamitard was contrasted with a Fabian.[9][10] Shaw himself, though a Fabian in politics, was described metaphorically as "a dynamitard among music and drama critics".[11]

In popular culture

Between 1889[12] and 1903[13] Stevenston Thistle, who played in the Ayrshire Football League and elsewhere,[14] were known as The Dynamitards.[15] They did not live up to their name, however, losing 7-2 to Clyde F.C. in the first round of the 1894–95 Scottish Cup.

In high culture

Mocked as a neologism by Robert Louis and Fanny van de Grift Stevenson ("Any writard who writes dynamitard shall find in me a never-resting fightard"),[16] its presence in dictionaries regretted by purists,[17] there it has remained.

References

  1. ^ Pall Mall Gazette 1882, p. 1.
  2. ^ Glasgow Herald 1882, p. 6.
  3. ^ Manchester Evening News 1882, p. 2.
  4. ^ a b Manchester Evening News 1883, p. 2.
  5. ^ Glaser 1910, p. 946.
  6. ^ The Times 1885, p. 12.
  7. ^ Luton Times and Advertiser 1885, p. 7.
  8. ^ Burton 2015, p. 348.
  9. ^ Laurence 1954, p. 8.
  10. ^ Wallmann 1997, p. 85.
  11. ^ Gassner 1962, p. 519.
  12. ^ Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald 1889, p. 3.
  13. ^ Scottish Referee 1902, p. 2.
  14. ^ Historical Football Kit c. 2019.
  15. ^ McDowell 2010, p. 113.
  16. ^ Stevenson & van de Grift Stevenson 1885, p. 183.
  17. ^ The Times 1950, p. 7.

Sources

Books, journals and theses

Newspaper reports and websites
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