English

Noun

spiv ‎(plural spivs)

1. (Britain, dated) A smartly dressed person who trades in illicit, black-market or stolen goods.
2. (Britain, dated) A flashy con artist, often homeless, who lives by his wits.
3. (Britain, dated) In Scotland Yard usage, a low and common thief.
4. (Britain, dated) A slacker; one who shirks responsibility.

Synonyms

• (?): sharper
• (?): chiseler
• (?): wide boy

Derived terms

• spivery, spivvery

Quotations

• "I make no apology for attacking spivs and gamblers who did more harm to the British economy than [transport union leader] Bob Crow could achieve in his wildest Trotskyite fantasies, while paying themselves outrageous bonuses underwritten by the taxpayer." -- Vince Cable on the banking system.^[1]

References

1. ↑ "Cable in attack on bonuses for City 'spivs'", Gavin Stamp, BBC News, 2010-09-22