illywhacker

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A small-time confidence trickster or seller of trinkets.

Pronunciation

/ˈɪliwakə/ EN-AU ck1 illywhacker.ogg

Word forms

illywhacker illywhackers illywacker

Etymology

Uncertain. Suggested by lexicographer Sidney Baker to derive from illy (variant of eeler, from pig Latin eeler-spee for spieler) + whacker. The verb form whack the illy is a back-formation from the noun.

Derived words

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