It is the attitude of neglecting matters even if they are of their own business or responsibility. It has its origins in the Christian Gospels, by the name of Pontius Pilate (Latin pontius Pilatus), the Roman prefect governor of Judea before whom Jesus was accused of sedition. Despite not finding him guilty, he yielded to popular pressure and allowed him to be executed, showing the Jews - according to Matthew - the symbolic gesture of washing his hands to make it clear that he was not responsible for the death of an innocent.
