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Entry revised for OED Online

spiv, n. DRAFT REVISION Apr. 2007 
slang.

Forms: 19 spive, 19— spiv.

[Origin obscure: perh. from SPIFF v.2, SPIFFY a. Cf. also the nickname of Henry 'Spiv' Bagster, London newspaper seller and petty criminal (b. 1883), although the reason for the nickname is uncertain. Bagster's court appearances for loitering, theft, assault, and selling counterfeit goods are reported in the national newspapers between 1903 and 1906. The nickname is recorded from 1904.]

    A man who lives by his wits and has no regular employment; one engaging in petty blackmarket dealings and freq. characterized by flashy dress.

1929 'C. G. GORDON' Crooks of Underworld 230 A favourite and easy method of 'jimming' is one that has long been in use by unscrupulous race-course frequenters. Supposing a clique of Manchester 'spives' were coming down to London [etc.].
1934 A. BRACEY School for Scoundrels 336 Spiv, petty crook who will turn his hand to anything so long as it does not involve honest work. 1937 Even. News 12 Mar. 15/6 (Advt.), With the Lincoln and the Grand National in the offing, the twisters, the welshers, the ‘spivs’ and the ‘boys’ are getting ready for a profitable session of the gentle sport of rooking the racegoer. 1939 [see BARROW n.3 4]. 1945 [see LAIRY a.2 1]. 1947 Times 13 Aug. 6/1 If spivs meant men living by their wits, the nets could be thrown very wide indeed. 1948 I. BROWN No Idle Words 107 It is queer that its opposite [of deep], wide, should have replaced it in Spiv-English. 1952 ‘J. HENRY’ Who lie in Gaol viii. 123 In appearance, he resembled the typical spiv; with coat-hanger shoulders, and pointed shoes, and a smile that would have been an asset to any confidence man. 1958 People 4 May 1/4 Who was responsible for letting the spivs hi-jack the crowds at Wembley? 1965 New Statesman 26 Nov. 851/1 The emergence of Robert Stephens, once a type-cast West End performer of small, seedy spiv-roles, as a major heroic actor in the making. 1978 Cornish Guardian 27 Apr. 3 Metrication will be an open invitation for every spiv and racketeer to cheat the British public.