roorback

roorback or roor·bach [roo r-bak] Word Origin noun

1. a false and more or less damaging report circulated for political effect, usually about a candidate seeking an office.

Origin of roorback 1844, Americanism; after a fictitious Baron von Roorback, in whose travelogue occurred an account of an incident damaging to the character of James K. Polk British Dictionary definitions for roorback roorback noun

1. US a false or distorted report or account, used to obtain political advantage

Word Origin for roorback C19: after Baron von Roorback, invented author of an imaginary Tour through the Western and Southern States (1844), which contained a passage defaming James K. Polk