a portmanteau of the
words "
stink"and "pinkerton."
stink refers to something smelly, namely a fart.
pinkerton refers to a private detective.
thus, a stinkerton is a private detective hired to investigate the origins of a particular rip. the best stinkertons have backgrounds in fartography. if a trained fartographer is present at the scene of a
true stink, undoubtedly he/it/they will be able to identify who released the rotten wind.
cadwallader: i lit'
rally just dumpt unto my trousers.
triebwasser: shall we
ring up a stinkerton?
cadwallader: wha'for, dear man? i just confessed to the smell-crime.
triebwasser: fair enough, my liege. 'tis a
true abomination of the senses.