spiv
A smartly dressed person who trades in illicit, black-market or stolen goods,…A smartly dressed person who trades in illicit, black-market or stolen goods, especially during World War II.
Meaning
4 senses(Ireland, UK, historical)A smartly dressed person who trades in illicit, black-market or stolen goods, especially during World War II.
a person without employment who makes money by various dubious schemes; goes about smartly dressed and having a good time
(Ireland, UK, dated)A flashy con artist, often homeless, who lives by his wits.
(Ireland, UK, dated)A low and common thief.
(Ireland, UK, dated)A slacker; one who shirks responsibility.
Origin
Unknown. Perhaps from spiff, spiffy. Spiv was the nickname of Henry Bagster, a Londoner arUnknown. 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.
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