thimblerig

English

/ˈθɪmbəlɹɪɡ/

noun
Definitions
  • A game of skill which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups (or thimbles) a pea-sized object has been placed after the party operating the game rapidly rearranges them, providing opportunity for sleight of sleight-of-hand trickery; a shell game.
  • One operating such a game.

Etymology

Compound from English thimble + English rig (a wanton girl).

Origin

English

rig

Gloss

a wanton girl

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms