Gonof

or gonnof, gonoph, gnof, subs. (thieves’).—1.  A thief; specifically a pickpocket, and especially an adept. [From the Hebrew. Ancient English; a legacy from the old time Jews. It came into use again with the moderns who employ it commonly. Cf. gonov = thief in Ex. xxii. 2 and 6, viz., ‘if the gonov be found.’] See THIEVES.

  1849.  Morning Chronicle, 2 Nov. A burglar would not condescend to sit among pickpockets. My informant has known a housebreaker to say with a sneer, when requested to sit down with the GONOFFS, ‘No, no, I may be a thief, but at least I’m a respectable one.’

  1851–61.  H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, Vol. III., p. 325. The GONAFF (a Hebrew word signifying a young thief, probably learnt from the Jew ‘fences’ in the neighbourhood).

  1848.  E. Z. C. JUDSON (‘Ned Buntline’), The Mysteries and Miseries of New York, ch. vii. He next assumed his present profession, and became a GNOF or pickpocket.

  1857.  DICKENS, On Duty with Inspector Field, in ‘Reprinted Pieces,’ p. 256. If the smallest ‘GONOPH’ about town were crouching at the bottom of a classic bath, Inspector Field would nose him with a finer scent than the ogre’s.

  1876.  C. HINDLEY, ed. The Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 146. Oh, you tief! you cheat! you GONNOF!

  1889.  Referee, 12 May. GONOPHS … were frequent in Tattersall’s on Friday.

  1889.  C. T. CLARKSON and J. HALL RICHARDSON, Police! p. 321. Boys who creep into houses … Young gunniffs or GONOPHS, sneaks.

  2.  (old).—A bumpkin; a churl; a clumsy hand; a shameless simpleton.

  1383.  CHAUCER, The Canterbury Tales, ‘The Miller’s Tale,’ 3187–8.

  c. 1547.  Song (quoted by HOTTEN).

  Verb (old).—To wheedle; to cheat; to steal.