Meanings
noungnome of Zürich (plural gnomes of Zürich)
plural gnomes of Zürich · alternative gnome of Zurich
- derogatoryhumorousA Swiss banker.
When the pound was under attack, Mr. Brown said it was “the Gnomes of Zurich” who were out to bust it.
1968 June 24, Adam Smith, “My Friend the Gnome of Zurich Says Don't Look Over Your Shoulder, A Major Money Crisis Is Gaining on You”, in New York Magazine, volume 1, number 12, page 17
Origin
Popularized by Labour politician George Brown during the sterling crisis of 1964.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
gnome of Zürich. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gnome%20of%20Z%C3%BCrich
MLA
“gnome of Zürich.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gnome%20of%20Z%C3%BCrich. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gnome of Zürich,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gnome%20of%20Z%C3%BCrich.
Source: gnome of Zürich on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.