magsman en · NOUN
Etymology
From mag + -s- + man, of unclear origin. It has been suggested that mag was dialect for halfpenny or for prattle.
Meanings
-
(archaic) A con man who tries to deceive members of the public.
[…] M was a Magsman, frequenting Pall-Mall; / N was a Nose that turned chirp on his pal; […]
1846, George William MacArthur Reynolds, The Mysteries of London, page 60:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| magsmen | Number=Plur | lexicographic |