spiv

Meaning

1. (Ireland, UK, historical) A smartly dressed person who trades in illicit, black-market or stolen goods, especially during World War II.
2. (Ireland, UK, dated) A flashy con artist, often homeless, who lives by his wits.
3. (Ireland, UK, dated) A low and common thief.
4. (Ireland, UK, dated) A slacker; one who shirks responsibility.

Synonyms

black marketeer

charlatan

cheat

cheater

con man

fake

finagler

fraud

goldbrick

huckster

impersonator

imposter

jobber

phony

ringer

scammer

shark

🦈

swindler

two-timer

utterer

weasel

welcher

welsher

shammer

spruce up

ganef

sandbagger

clip artist

ganof

gonif

goniff

sharpy

Translations

dolandırıcı

tavcı

κομπινάδορος

αεριτζής

chanchullero

embrollaire

adi hırsız

düzenbaz kimse

estraperlista

trafica

Pronounced as (IPA)

/spɪv/

Etymology

Unknown. Perhaps from spiff, spiffy. Spiv was the nickname of Henry Bagster, a Londoner arrested a number of times in 1904-6 for activities as described below, and may have been the archetype. Also possibly from Romani spiv (“sparrow”), as active and opportunistic.