Buggins|ˈbʌgɪnz|[A. ‘typical’ proper name used generically.]Buggins'(s turn, the principle of assigning an appointment to persons in rotation rather than according to merit.1901Ld.Fisher Let.13 Jan. in A. J. Marder Fear God & Dread Nought (1952) I. 181Favouritism was the secret of our efficiency in the old days... Going by seniority saves so much trouble. ‘Buggins's turn’ has been our ruin and will be disastrous hereafter!1917Let.8 Jan. inLd.Fisher Memories (1919) iii. 39,I was sorry for Jellicoe superseding Callaghan when the war broke out, but I remembered your old saying, ‘Some day the Empire will go down because it is Buggins's turn’!1944W. S. Churchill inSecond World War (1952) V. 616The departmental view is no doubt opposed to long tenures and the doctrine of ‘Buggin's turn’ is very powerful.1962Guardian 18 Oct. 1/6Merit, not ‘Buggins's turn’, was the standard.1970Observer 8 Feb. 44/4A sort of Buggins's-turn job, with the vice-chairman automatically moving into his boss's seat.