Bagman Explained

The term bagman (or bag man) has different meanings in different countries.

One group of definitions centers on the idea of traveling. In British usage, "bagman" is a term for a traveling salesman, first known from 1808.[1] In Australian usage, it can mean a tramp or homeless man.[2] [3]

However, many other definitions center around money. People involved in political fundraising, soliciting donations, or otherwise involved in the financial side of a political campaign may be referred to as a bagman. This usage has led to an expansion of meaning to include those who solicit bribes for public officials.[4] [1]

In organized crime, a bagman may be involved in protection rackets or the numbers game, collecting or distributing the money involved. When acting as an intermediary in such activities, a bagman may also be called a delivery boy or running man, and may receive a fraction of the money collected.[1] [5] [6] [7] [8] Journalist Jack Shafer defines "bag man" as a slang term "for criminals who perform deliveries and run errands for other criminals".[9] In criminal operations involving disbursements of cash as illegal payments for some service, a bagman delivers the money, often cash, to the recipient, such as Fred LaRue in the Watergate scandal.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Definition of BAGMAN . Definition of Bagman by Merriam-Webster . 2019-06-24 . 2019-10-31.
  2. Web site: Definition of bagman . www.dictionary.com . 2015-06-10 . 2019-10-31.
  3. Web site: bagman (noun) definition and synonyms . Macmillan Dictionary . 2019-10-31.
  4. Web site: Bagman . Lexico Dictionaries . https://web.archive.org/web/20191031110333/https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/bagman . dead . October 31, 2019 . 2019-10-31.
  5. Web site: Nigel Wright's role as party bagman deserves scrutiny: McQuaig. Toronto Star. 4 June 2013.
  6. Web site: Iran and Argentina: The Defectors' Tale: O'Grady. The Wall Street Journal. 22 March 2015.
  7. Web site: Inside the Cultish Dreamworld of Augusta National . The New Yorker . 2019-06-24 . 2019-10-31.
  8. Web site: Higgins . Jack . Robinson . Patrick . Bagman definition and meaning . Collins English Dictionary . 2019-10-31 . 2019-10-31.
  9. Web site: Shafer . Jack . Shameless paper in mindless fog . https://web.archive.org/web/20130420042629/http://blogs.reuters.com/jackshafer/2013/04/18/shameless-paper-in-mindless-fog/. dead. April 20, 2013. Reuters Blogs . 18 April 2013.