fagin

noun

fa·gin ˈfā-gən

often capitalized

: an adult who instructs others (such as children) in crime

Word History

Etymology

Fagin, character in Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist (1839)

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of fagin was in 1839

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fag hag

fagin

fagine

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Fagin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fagin. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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