different between spiv vs spiffy

English

Etymology

Unknown

Perhaps from spiff, spiffy.

Spiv was the nickname of Henry Bagster, a Londoner arrested a number of times in 1904-6 for activities as described below, and may have been the archetype. Also possibly from Romani spiv, a sparrow as active and opportunistic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sp?v/
• Rhymes: -?v

Noun

spiv (plural spivs)

1. (Britain) 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.

   Synonyms: sharper, chiseler, wide boy; see also Thesaurus:fraudster, Thesaurus:confidence trickster

3. (Britain, dated) In Scotland Yard usage, a low and common thief.
4. (Britain, dated) A slacker; one who shirks responsibility.

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.

Derived terms

• spivery
• spivish
• spivvy

References

Further reading

• "spiv" at World Wide Words Michael Quinion, 2001

Anagrams

• PIVs, V.I.P.s, VIPs

English

Etymology

spiff +? -y

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?sp?fi/
• Rhymes: -?fi

Adjective

spiffy (comparative spiffier, superlative spiffiest)

1. (informal) Dapper; fine or neat, especially in style of clothing or other appearance.
   • 1906, “Newport News in London,” The New York Times, 26 Aug, p. 9,

     The charming twins came last week, and you should see their clothes. ‘Spiffy’ is the word.

Synonyms

• snazzy
• spiffing
• spivvy

Related terms

• spiv
• spiff up
• spruce up

Translations

Noun

spiffy (plural spiffies)

1. (informal) A dapper person.

References

• Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary, 1987-1996.