kengster

K5E1N1G2S1T1E1R1
Singapore/ˈkeŋstə/

noun

Someone who avoids work, military duties or other responsibilities by constantly reporting sick; a malingerer.

OriginTeochew 臭 →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounkengster (plural kengsters)

plural kengsters

  1. SingaporeSinglishderogatorySomeone who avoids work, military duties or other responsibilities by constantly reporting sick; a malingerer.

Origin

  1. Teochew臭“dirty, ill-reputed”
  2. Englishkengster

keng + -ster, the first element is a clipping of chao keng, from Teochew 臭 (cao³, “dirty, ill-reputed”) + 經 /经 (gêng¹, “to evade; to pass the buck”).

More words from Teochew

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

kengster. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kengster

MLA

“kengster.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kengster. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kengster,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kengster.

Source: kengster on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.