"Spivs" redirects here. For the 2004 British film, see Spivs (film).
In the United Kingdom, the word spiv is slang for a type of petty criminal who deals in illicit, typically black market, goods. The word was particularly used during the Second World War and in the post-war period when many goods were rationed due to shortages.
A man dressed as a spiv selling goods "from the back of a lorry" at a 2011 historical re-enactment, complete with a look-out watching for the law
According to Peter Wollen, "The crucial difference between the spiv and the classic Hollywood gangster was the degree of sympathy the spiv gained as an intermediary in the transfer of black market goods to ... a grateful mass of consumers."[1]
The origin of the word is obscure. According to Eric Partridge[2] the word was originally racecourse slang, but had become widely accepted by 1950. It appeared in a paperback crime novel in 1934.[3]
spiff, a bonus for salespeople (especially drapers but later car salesmen etc.) for managing to sell excess or out of fashion stock. The seller might offer a discount, by splitting his commission with the customer. A seller of stolen goods could give this explanation for a bargain price.
"Spiv" was the nickname of Henry Bagster, a London small-time crook in the 1900s who was frequently arrested for illegal street trading and confidence tricks. National newspapers reported his court appearances in 1903-06.[4][5][6]
Other suggestions have been made, most commonly noting that spiv is also a Romani word for a sparrow, implying the person is a petty criminal rather than a serious "villain"[7] or that it is an American police acronym for Suspicious Person Itinerant Vagrant,[8] though this is an unlikely formation and is probably a backronym.[5]
The spiv had a characteristic look which has been described as "A duck's arse haircut, Clark Gable moustache, rakish trilby [hat], drape-shape jacket, and loud garish tie ... [which] all represented a deliberate snook cocked at wartime austerity."[10]
The comedian Arthur English had a successful career immediately after the Second World War appearing as a spiv with a pencil moustache, wide-brimmed hat, light-coloured suit and a large bright patterned tie.[11]
The British television series Minder (1979-1994) featured George Cole in the role of Arthur Daley, an aging spiv with an unseen wife ("her indoors"), a used-car business, and a bodyguard (minder) acted by Dennis Waterman.
The character Swinburne (played by Bruce Forsyth) in the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks – set in London during the Second World War – has a similar appearance, and offers to sell from a selection of watches which are pinned inside his coat.
In Agatha Christie's play, The Mousetrap, the mysterious character of Mr. Paravicini is referred to as a spiv. He arrives unexpectedly at Monkswell Manor, a guesthouse that is the setting for the play, with only one small suitcase.
In a song from The Kinks' album Muswell Hillbillies (1971), called "Holloway Jail", the narrator is visiting his beloved in that famous London lock-up. He says "she was young and ever so pretty", but "a spiv named Frankie Shine" led her into a life of crime.
In The Kinks' rock operaPreservation: Acts 1 & 2 (1973–74), Ray Davies states that his character "Flash", at that point leader of the Government, had started out as a "Second Hand Car Spiv" in the song "Scum of the Earth".
English singer-songwriter Joe Jackson based elements of his early public persona on that of the spiv, and labelled his own music as "spiv rock".[14] His use of spiv imagery is particularly evident on the cover of his second album, I'm the Man.
Box for One (1949) is a television play about a spiv.
^e.g. Daily Mirror 30 August 1914." “Spiv” Bagster, ....went to prison yesterday for three months as a "rogue and vagabond.” ... Bagster was detected in the yard of Victoria Station offering imitation jewellery or sale as genuine."
^Henke, James (May 17, 1979). "Joe Jackson Puts His Best Shoe Forward". Rolling Stone. No. 291. Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc. p. 22.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spivs.
The dictionary definition of spiv at Wiktionary
January 05, 2023
spiv, redirects, here, 2004, british, film, film, united, kingdom, word, spiv, slang, type, petty, criminal, deals, illicit, typically, black, market, goods, word, particularly, used, during, second, world, post, period, when, many, goods, were, rationed, shor. Spivs redirects here For the 2004 British film see Spivs film In the United Kingdom the word spiv is slang for a type of petty criminal who deals in illicit typically black market goods The word was particularly used during the Second World War and in the post war period when many goods were rationed due to shortages A man dressed as a spiv selling goods from the back of a lorry at a 2011 historical re enactment complete with a look out watching for the law According to Peter Wollen The crucial difference between the spiv and the classic Hollywood gangster was the degree of sympathy the spiv gained as an intermediary in the transfer of black market goods to a grateful mass of consumers 1 Contents 1 Origins 2 Appearance 3 In popular culture 3 1 Spiv cycle films 3 2 Other appearances 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksOrigins EditThe origin of the word is obscure According to Eric Partridge 2 the word was originally racecourse slang but had become widely accepted by 1950 It appeared in a paperback crime novel in 1934 3 The Oxford English Dictionary states that it may come from spiffy meaning smartly dressed spiff a bonus for salespeople especially drapers but later car salesmen etc for managing to sell excess or out of fashion stock The seller might offer a discount by splitting his commission with the customer A seller of stolen goods could give this explanation for a bargain price Spiv was the nickname of Henry Bagster a London small time crook in the 1900s who was frequently arrested for illegal street trading and confidence tricks National newspapers reported his court appearances in 1903 06 4 5 6 Other suggestions have been made most commonly noting that spiv is also a Romani word for a sparrow implying the person is a petty criminal rather than a serious villain 7 or that it is an American police acronym for Suspicious Person Itinerant Vagrant 8 though this is an unlikely formation and is probably a backronym 5 The word was popularized by Bill Naughton in a September 1945 News Chronicle article Meet the Spiv 9 Appearance EditThe spiv had a characteristic look which has been described as A duck s arse haircut Clark Gable moustache rakish trilby hat drape shape jacket and loud garish tie which all represented a deliberate snook cocked at wartime austerity 10 The comedian Arthur English had a successful career immediately after the Second World War appearing as a spiv with a pencil moustache wide brimmed hat light coloured suit and a large bright patterned tie 11 In popular culture EditSpiv cycle films Edit A series of British crime films produced between 1945 and 1950 during the time that rationing was still in effect dealt with the black market and related underworld and have been termed spiv movies or the spiv cycle by critics 12 Examples are Brighton Rock and Night and the City in which the spiv is a main character Other crime films which have been cited as part of the spiv cycle though not always featuring a spiv character just criminal dealings are They Made Me a Fugitive It Always Rains on Sunday Odd Man Out No Way Back The Third Man and Waterloo Road 13 Other appearances Edit John Worby 1937 The other half the autobiography of a spiv and its 1939 sequel Spiv s progress both non fiction books The image of the spiv was used for the character Flash Harry played by George Cole in the film The Belles of St Trinian s 1954 and subsequent St Trinian s films The British television series Minder 1979 1994 featured George Cole in the role of Arthur Daley an aging spiv with an unseen wife her indoors a used car business and a bodyguard minder acted by Dennis Waterman The character Private Joe Walker played by James Beck in the TV series Dad s Army is a spiv The character Swinburne played by Bruce Forsyth in the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks set in London during the Second World War has a similar appearance and offers to sell from a selection of watches which are pinned inside his coat Another example of a spiv in children s fiction is Johnny Sharp in the novel The Otterbury Incident 1948 by Cecil Day Lewis In Agatha Christie s play The Mousetrap the mysterious character of Mr Paravicini is referred to as a spiv He arrives unexpectedly at Monkswell Manor a guesthouse that is the setting for the play with only one small suitcase In a song from The Kinks album Muswell Hillbillies 1971 called Holloway Jail the narrator is visiting his beloved in that famous London lock up He says she was young and ever so pretty but a spiv named Frankie Shine led her into a life of crime In The Kinks rock opera Preservation Acts 1 amp 2 1973 74 Ray Davies states that his character Flash at that point leader of the Government had started out as a Second Hand Car Spiv in the song Scum of the Earth English singer songwriter Joe Jackson based elements of his early public persona on that of the spiv and labelled his own music as spiv rock 14 His use of spiv imagery is particularly evident on the cover of his second album I m the Man Box for One 1949 is a television play about a spiv In the music video for The Kinks song Come Dancing Ray Davies stars as a spiv The character of Mike The Cool Person from the TV comedy The Young Ones is a portrayal of a spiv In the PlayStation game MediEvil 2 the player can buy items from The Spiv See also EditFartsovka Gombeen man Wide boyReferences Edit Peter Wollen 2002 Paris Hollywood Writings on Film pp185 6 Partridge E 1966 Origins A short etymological dictionary of modern English 4th ed Axel Bracey 1934 School for Scoundrels Rich and Cowan Oxford English Dictionary a b World Wide Words Richard English Spiv e g Daily Mirror 30 August 1914 Spiv Bagster went to prison yesterday for three months as a rogue and vagabond Bagster was detected in the yard of Victoria Station offering imitation jewellery or sale as genuine Green Jonathon The Cassell Dictionary of Slang The Spectator 4 December 1982 Jeffery Bernard Low Life Roodhouse Mark 2010 09 28 City Bankers Spivs or Profiteers History amp Policy Savage Jon Teenage The Creation of Youth Culture New York Viking 2007 ISBN 978 0 670 03837 4 The Independent 19 April 1995 Obituaries Arthur English S Chibnall amp R Murphy eds 1999 British Crime Cinema Routledge ISBN 0 415 16869 4 www screenonline org uk www screenonline org uk Retrieved 2013 06 15 Henke James May 17 1979 Joe Jackson Puts His Best Shoe Forward Rolling Stone No 291 Straight Arrow Publishers Inc p 22 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spivs The dictionary definition of spiv at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spiv amp oldid 1121846846, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
