Dynamitard

Dynamitard was a predominantly nineteenth century expression for a person who used explosives for violence against the State, and is a niche metaphor for a revolutionary in politics, culture or social affairs.

Illustrated Police News, London, 21 February 1885

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] ("Dynamitard" is not a formal French word: French newspapers had coined it 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]. However, Shaw himself was described, metaphorically, as "a dynamitard among music and drama critics".[11]

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. 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 1885, p. 183.
  17. The Times 1950, p. 7.

Sources

Books, journals and theses
  • Burton, Antoinette (2015). "Review: The Dynamiters: Irish Nationalism and Political Violence in the Wider World, 1867– 1900 by Niall Whelehan: Alter-Nations: Nationalisms, Terror and the State in Nineteenth-Century Britain and Ireland by Amy E. Martin". Victorian Studies. Indiana University Press. 57 (2): 348–50. JSTOR 10.2979/victorianstudies.57.2.348.
  • Gassner, John (1962). "Bernard Shaw and the Making of the Modern Mind". College English. National Council of Teachers of English. 23 (7): 517–525. JSTOR 373086.
  • Glaser, Kurt (1910). "Le sens péjoratif du suffixe-ard en français". Romanische Forschung (in French). Vittorio Klostermann GmbH. 27 (3): 932–982. JSTOR 27935761.
  • Laurence, Dan H. (1954). "Bernard Shaw and the Pall Mall Gazette: An Identification of His Unsigned Contributions". Bulletin (Shaw Society of America). Penn State University Press (6): 1–7. JSTOR 40681278.
  • McDowell, Matthew Lynn (2010). "The origins, patronage and culture of association football in the west of Scotland, c. 1865-1902. PhD thesis" (PDF). University of Glasgow theses. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  • Stevenson, Robert Louis; van de Grift Stevenson, Fanny (1885). More New Arabian Nights: the Dynamiter. New York: Henry Holt. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  • Wallmann, Jeffrey M. (1997). "EVOLUTIONARY MACHINERY: FORESHADOWINGS OF SCIENCE FICTION IN BERNARD SHAW'S DRAMAS". Shaw. Penn State University Press. 17, SHAW AND SCIENCE FICTION: 91–95. JSTOR 40681465.

Newspaper reports and websites
  • "The Red Spectre in France". Pall Mall Gazette. London. 28 October 1882.
  • "Monday morning, October 30". Glasgow Herald. 30 October 1882.
  • "Evening News". Manchester Evening News. 31 October 1882.
  • "From our London Correspondent". Manchester Evening News. 7 April 1883.
  • "The Dynamite Outrages". The Times. 10 February 1885.
  • "Miscellaneous". Luton Times and Advertiser. 13 March 1885.
  • "Sports". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. 4 October 1889.
  • "Ayrshire Notes". Scottish Referee. 21 November 1902.
  • "Derivations". The Times. 17 March 1950.
  • Historical Football Kit. "Eminent Victorians". Archived from the original on 12 September 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
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