The Gross Origin of Slush FundsThe naval history of off-the-books accounting

History of Phrases

From the show

History of Phrases

Discover the surprising maritime etymology behind a common term for political corruption. In the 18th-century Royal Navy, "slush" was the rancid grease skimmed from boiling meat and sold to candle makers. The profits funded small perks for sailors, creating the original template for unregulated accounts used to hide money today.

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