ganef

noun

ga·​nef ˈgä-nəf How to pronounce ganef (audio)
variants or gonif or less commonly goniff
slang

Word History

Etymology

borrowed, directly or via a Central European underworld argot such as Rotwelsch, from Yiddish ganef "thief," going back to Hebrew gannābh

First Known Use

circa 1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ganef was circa 1839

Dictionary Entries Near ganef

Cite this Entry

“Ganef.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ganef. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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