thimblerig

American  

[thim-buhl-rig] / ˈθɪm bəlˌrɪg /

noun

1. a sleight-of-hand swindling game in which the operator palms a pellet or pea while appearing to cover it with one of three thimblelike cups, and then, moving the cups about, offers to bet that no one can tell under which cup the pellet or pea lies.

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verb (used with object)

thimblerigged, thimblerigging

1. to cheat by or as by the thimblerig.

thimblerig British  

/ ˈθɪmbəlˌrɪɡ /

noun

1. a game in which the operator rapidly moves about three inverted thimbles, often with sleight of hand, one of which conceals a token, the other player betting on which thimble the token is under

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verb

1. (tr) to cheat or swindle, as in this game

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• thimblerigger
  noun

Etymology

Origin of thimblerig

First recorded in 1815–25; thimble + rig (in a British sense “a swindle, fraud”)

Example Sentences

He is to be seen escorting celebrated horsewoman, Fanny Highflyer, or in confidential converse with Lord Thimblerig, the eminent handicapper.

From The Book of Snobs by Thackeray, William Makepeace

As the impostor was still young enough to repent,   And, besides, had some claims to a grandee connection, Their Worships—considerate for once—only sent   The young Thimblerig off to the House of Correction.

From The Complete Poems of Sir Thomas Moore Collected by Himself with Explanatory Notes by Rossetti, William Michael

Thimblerig iz a game az old az Methuselah.

From The Complete Works of Josh Billings by Shaw, Henry W.