brigue
To achieve or obtain by underhand methods.
obsolete
[W]e think it very unbecoming our Prudence, that the Determination ſhould be remitted to the Authors themſelves; when our Adversaries, by Briguing and Caballing, have cauſed so univerſal a Defection from us, that the greater Part of our Society has already deſerted to them, [...]
Where it comes from
Borrowed from French brigue, of uncertain origin. Compare Italian briga, Spanish brega.
Adapted from the Wiktionary entry brigue (CC BY-SA 4.0).