spiv
[ spiv ]
nounBritish Informal.
a petty criminal, especially a black marketeer, racetrack tout, or petty thief.
Origin of spiv
11885–90; back formation from dial. spiving smart; perhaps akin to spiffy
Words Nearby spiv
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for spiv
spiv
/ (spɪv) /
noun
British slang a person who makes a living by underhand dealings or swindling; black marketeer
Origin of spiv
1C20: back formation from dialect spiving smart; compare spiffy, spiffing
Derived forms of spiv
- spivvy, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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