Boffin

This word is acknowledged as an etymological mystery. According to the OED, it first appears in 1941 as “an elderly naval officer” and then by 1945 it has acquired its current meaning of “one engaged in scientific or technical research”. The OED does not explain this migration of meaning. One possible etymological avenue is that Boffin is often encountered as a surname. Charles Dickens in the novel Our Mutual Friend (1865) describes a Mr Boffin as “a very odd-looking fellow indeed”. Perhaps a real Mr Boffin did inspire the origin but until there is more evidence, the origin remains unknown.