518: fink May 9, 2016

Slang, phrases and expressions are often difficult to pin down, considering how fickle the words are and from how many sources they may come. Much of the time, only theories–not certainty–prevail. In terms of the word, 'fink', which developed in the late 19th century is hypothesized to come from German, literally meaning, ‘finch,’ but also a pejorative term. Frat-guys at their various houses began to refer to those who weren't members as finks, probably on account of the similarity to the freedom of wild birds, distinct from caged ones. The term was later generalized to denote those not belonging to organizations such as trade unions when the term extended to strikebreakers.