different between sharper vs chiseler

English

Etymology

sharp +? -er

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /????p?/

Adjective

sharper

1. comparative form of sharp: more sharp

Noun

sharper (plural sharpers)

1. (dated) a swindler; a cheat; a professional gambler who makes his living by cheating.
   • 1766, Tobias Smollett, Travels through France and Italy, Letter XXIX, [1]

     Our young gentlemen who go to Rome will do well to be upon their guard against a set of sharpers, (some of them of our own country,) who deal in pictures and antiques, and very often impose upon the uninformed stranger, by selling him trash, as the productions of the most celebrated artists.

   • 1878, John Payne, Introduction, in François Villon, Poems, translated by John Payne, New York: Boni & Liveright, c. 1918, p. 33 [2]

     […] in a twinkling the accomplished sharper changes the pitchers and pretending to examine the contents, asks the tapster what kind of wine he has given him […]

   • 1882, W. S. Gilbert, "Emily, John, James, and I: A Derby Legend" in The "Bab" Ballads, Philadelphia: David McKay, publishing date not given, p. 275, [3]

     The Derby Day sun glittered gaily on cads, / On maidens with gamboge hair, / On sharpers and pickpockets, swindlers and pads— / (For I, with my harp, was there).

Synonyms

• chiseler, spiv
• See also Thesaurus:fraudster

Translations

Anagrams

• harpers, phraser

English

Alternative forms

• chiseller

Etymology

chisel +? -er

Noun

chiseler (plural chiselers)

1. One who uses a chisel for carving.
2. (informal) A cheat; a swindler; a con artist.
   • 1941, Groucho Marx, The Big Store (movie)

     [Of course $20,000 is too much.] Only a cheap chiseler would ask that much.

3. (informal, Ireland, 20th-century inner-city Dublin slang) A child.
   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses, Ch. 6

     --Reuben and the son were piking it down the quay next the river on their way to the Isle of Man boat and the young chiseller suddenly got loose and over the wall with him into the Liffey.

Synonyms

• (informal: con artist): sharper, spiv

Translations

Anagrams

• Eichlers, Reichels, Reichles