Sentence:  He devoted six years to building the probe and, breaking with <WSD>boffin</WSD> tradition, transformed himself into an extroverted fundraiser to sell it to a public and government largely indifferent to space exploration. ... In fact, he's still busily rallying support for "w 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  An engineer or scientist, especially one engaged in technological or military research. (from 1930s–1940s)