Ex-con Leo Martin (William Hartnell) questions the questioner, detective inspector Roberts (Robert Beatty). From Appointment with Crime (dir. John Harlow, 1946):
“So I suppose you think I did it.”Green's Dictionary of Slang has it covered: “a flashy, sharp individual who exists on the fringes of real criminality, living by their wits rather than a regular job.”
“Why should I?”
“Because you’re a copper, and I’m a spiv.”
Jonathon Green offers four possible origins: (1) the Romany word spiv, sparrow, a derogatory term for “those who existed by picking up the leavings of their betters, criminal or legitimate”; (2) a reversal of V.I.P.s; (3) a police abbreviation for “suspected persons and itinerant vagrants”; (4) a derivation from spiff, a dandy.
The Oxford English Dictionary says the word is of unknown origin but points to spiff, spiffy, and Henry “Spiv” Bagster, a London newspaper seller and criminal:
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.Not clear though why he was called “Spiv.”
And now it’s back to my law-abiding life.
comments: 5
https://pure.manchester.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/54509043/FULL_TEXT.PDF
Spivery on parade! Thanks, reader.
https://books.google.com/books/publisher/content?id=uXM3EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA668&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&bul=1&sig=ACfU3U2fMBm3b5BoJlVLtFj0fHWyE0Z3Kg&w=1280
Often used here in the UK for those who deal in black market goods, especially during and after the Second World War while rationing was in force - a spiv might well be able to acquire for you things which weren't exactly on your ration book.
Thanks for that page, Anon. It must be from an edition of Eric Partridge’s dictionary of slang other than the one I have (where it’s on 1425). I recognize the typeface of the guide words.
Richard, thanks for the background. In the movie, the spiv broke a display window to steal from a jewelry store. A security gate came down on his wrists, and his mates fled, leaving him to take the rap.
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