fagin

noun

fa·​gin ˈfā-gən How to pronounce fagin (audio)
often capitalized
: an adult who instructs others (such as children) in crime

Word History

Etymology

Fagin, character in Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist (1839)

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fagin was in 1839

Dictionary Entries Near fagin

fag hag

fagin

fagine

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Cite this Entry

“Fagin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fagin. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.

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