ganef

American  

[gah-nuhf] / ˈgɑ nəf /

Also gonif,

noun

Slang.

1. a thief, swindler, crook, or rascal.

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ganef British  

/ ˈɡɑːnəf /

noun

1. an unscrupulous opportunist who stoops to sharp practice

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Etymology

Origin of ganef

First recorded in 1920–25; from Yiddish, from Hebrew gannābh

Example Sentences

"A ganef you couldn't tell what he would do at all," Linkheimer rejoined, and Abe rose to his feet.

From Abe and Mawruss Being Further Adventures of Potash and Perlmutter by Glass, Montague

"Me send my partner to bail out a ganef?"

From Abe and Mawruss Being Further Adventures of Potash and Perlmutter by Glass, Montague

"Say, lookyhere, Potash," he began, "what d'ye mean by sending your partner to bail out that ganef?"

From Abe and Mawruss Being Further Adventures of Potash and Perlmutter by Glass, Montague

"Maybe he ain't no more a ganef as I am, Mawruss, but just the same, he is in jail and I ain't."

From Abe and Mawruss Being Further Adventures of Potash and Perlmutter by Glass, Montague

Well, you shouldn't be surprised at nothing like that, Mawruss, because I didn't bring him along for the simple reason, Mawruss, I don't want no ganef working round my place.

From Abe and Mawruss Being Further Adventures of Potash and Perlmutter by Glass, Montague