Mugwump...

[flying_ford_anglia]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C2584
From: flying_ford_anglia
Subject: Mugwump...
Date: 6/22/00 7:39 am  (ET)

I was just looking up the word Mugwump in my trusty dictionary (Professor
Dumbledore is described as 'Chief Mugwump', I think it is) and it says
that in North America it refers to "an independent in politics."

I wonder if Dumbledore has some sort of external role in the Ministry of
Magic? I seem to recall that Fudge sends Dumbledore owls all the time,
seeking advice. Dumbledore also turned down the Minister's job, but may
have been appointed to some other role.

Note for UK members: London's new Mayor, Ken Livingstone, is clearly
a Mugwump of the highest order, and, if he can sort out the London
Underground, he'll be declared a Magician too.

Cultural observation: The obscure slang meaning of Mugwump is "an
important person" - but it sounds to me like an insult, or the name of
a large puppet invented by Jim Henson, so it's hardly surprising that
it fell out of favour.

Neil

Sorry about all these posts in a row - I seem to be most active when
everyone else is asleep or tied up.