spiv

英 [spɪv] 美 [spɪv]
  • n. 游手好闲的人；犯小罪的人
  • vt. 打扮得衣冠楚楚
  • vi. 靠犯小罪过日子
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中文词源

spiv 衣冠楚楚的奸商

俚语，缩写自 spiffy,穿着光鲜的，打扮时髦的。后用于指衣冠楚楚的奸商。

英文词源

spiv (n.)
"petty crook who will turn his hand to anything so long as it does not involve honest work," 1934, British slang, probably dating back to late 19c. and connected with spiff (see spiffy) in one of its various senses. Being a flashy dresser was a spiv characteristic.
The spiv reached his apotheosis during World War II and the succeeding years, when the disrupted economic conditions allowed ample scope for unofficial trading (a pair of nylons here, a few packets of cigarettes there) and other petty crime. He became a stock figure in the English social comedy, represented on screen by such stereotypes as 'Flash Harry' (played by George Cole) in the St. Trinian's films and Pte. Walker in Dad's Army. [Ayto, "20th Century Words"]