judas
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A deceitful person; JUDAS-HAIRED, red-haired, deceitful. It is generally believed that JUDAS ISCARIOT was red-haired. Painters seem to have accepted this idea, with modifications as to the exact amount of colour.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “judas” mean?
A deceitful person; JUDAS-HAIRED, red-haired, deceitful. It is generally believed that JUDAS ISCARIOT was red-haired. Painters seem to have accepted this idea, with modifications as to the exact amount of colour.
Is “judas” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.