Lawsonize
verbEtymology From Lawson + -ize. Named after American businessman Thomas W. Lawson, co-founder of the controversial Amalgamated Copper Mining Company and later author of Frenzied Finance, which told the story of the amalgamation in an aggressively one-sided manner.
1
US, Archaic, Derogatory, Obsolete, Usually To amalgamate.
- A little Lawsonizing might do the department mentioned a power of good in the way of housecleaning.1906, The National Engineer:
- Their spelling would often make Josh Billings envious and their logic is only in process and hasn't yet been “ Lawsonized.” But we don't worry over their crudity while they are learning to strike out.1909, State Teachers Association, Proceedings of the New York State Teachers Association ... Annual Meeting, New York:
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- I will add right here that if there was ever any industry in this country that needed Lawsonizing any more than the whaling and latter day merchant marine does, I have not heard of it.1913, Pacific Marine Review:
2
US, Archaic, Derogatory, Obsolete, Usually To harshly criticize, to use the press to condemn a rival business.
- Admitting Mr. Bok's right to play to the gallery if he wishes, why can't he play fair? Why can't he Lawsonize things he knows something about ?1904, Irving P. Fox, The Spatula:
- He could Lawsonize the theatrical world with some very diverting 'frenzied drama ,' no doubt.1905, Life:
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- [T]he time was when the public feeling against the Standard Oil has been Tarbellized and Lawsonized into almost a fever-heat.1917, The Magazine of Wall Street: