pelf
UK[pɛlf]US[pɛlf]
n
Money, especially when gained in a dishonest or contemptible way.
Etymology
The word 'pelf' arrived in Middle English from the Anglo-Norman term 'pelfre', signifying plunder or stolen property. Its journey into English reflects the language's history of absorbing legal and administrative vocabulary following the Norman Conquest. While its precise pre-French roots are uncertain, it has consistently carried a pejorative sense of ill-gotten gain. Over centuries, its meaning narrowed from general 'booty' to specifically refer to money acquired through dishonesty or unworthy means, retaining its strong negative connotation of contemptible wealth.
Analysis
This word is a simplex loanword. It entered English from Anglo-Norman 'pelfre', meaning 'booty' or 'stolen goods', which itself derived from Old French 'pelfre'. The ultimate origin is obscure but may be connected to a root meaning 'spoil' or 'plunder'.
Examples
He was more interested in artistic integrity than in worldly pelf.
The corrupt official was finally stripped of his ill-gotten pelf.
They accused the merchant of pursuing nothing but pelf and profit.