A thief or dishonest person (from Yiddish); a swindler or criminal.
From Yiddish ganef or gonef, derived from Hebrew gannāb, meaning 'thief.' This Yiddish word entered American English slang, particularly in areas with large Jewish populations, and carries a somewhat humorous or colloquial tone.
'Ganef' is one of many Yiddish words that became part of American English slang—immigrants brought their language with them, and words like this became how New Yorkers and other city dwellers talked!
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