[f. THIMBLE-RIG sb. + -ER1. A professional sharper who cheats by thimblerigging; also transf. one who cheats by means of tricks, or juggles with phrases, etc.
1831. Lincoln Herald, 7 Oct., 4/4. An altercation took place between some countrymen and the thimble-riggers, on a charge of cheating.
1871. L. Stephen, Playgr. Eur., ix. (1894), 202. A cross between a prizefighter and a thimble-rigger.
1891. T. Hardy, Tess, xviii. A firm believer—not as the phrase is now elusively construed by theological thimble-riggers in the Church and out of it.
Hence Thimbleriggery, thimblerigging.
1841. Blackw. Mag., L. 178. Lying and thimbleriggery assume high privilege.
1841. R. Oastler, Fleet Papers, I. 399. The noble art of ‘thimble-riggery.’
