D defs.my
Menu ☰
Entry 2 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Thimblerig

· Thim·ble·rig · IPA /ˈθɪmbəlɹɪɡ/
01 n. A sleight-of-hand trick played with three small cups, shaped like thimbles, and a small ball or little pea.
  1. 1.
    A sleight-of-hand trick played with three small cups, shaped like thimbles, and a small ball or little pea.
02 v. t. To swindle by means of small cups or thimbles, and a pea or small ball placed under one of them and quickly shifted to another, the victim …
imp. & p. p. Thimblerigged; p. pr. & vb. n. Thimblerigging
  1. 1.
    To swindle by means of small cups or thimbles, and a pea or small ball placed under one of them and quickly shifted to another, the victim laying a wager that he knows under which cup it is; hence, to cheat by any trick.