spiv

1. (UK, Ireland, historical) A smartly dressed person who trades in illicit, black-market or stolen goods, especially during World War II.IrelandUKhistorical

2. (UK, Ireland, dated) A flashy con artist, often homeless, who lives by his wits.Examples: "I mean, Mayfair is just top spivs stepping into the slippers of the former gentry, and Belgravia, like I've said, is all flats in houses built as palaces, and Chelsea—well!"; "It was Robeson who introduced me to the other blacks in New York, the Show Boat cast, the hangers-on, girlfriends, spivs, and bookies. "My people," he called them, "my brothers and sisters" […]"; "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."Synonyms: sharper, chiseler, wide boy, bunco-steerer, charlatan, cheat, cheater, chiselerIrelandUKdated

3. (UK, Ireland, dated, Scotland Yard) A low and common thief.IrelandUKdated

4. (UK, Ireland, dated) A slacker; one who shirks responsibility.IrelandUKdated