grifter

The term 'grifter' emerged in the early 1900s from the underworld slang of the United States. It derives from the verb 'grift', a clever alteration of the older word 'graft', which since the mid-19th century had meant to acquire money or advantage through dishonest means, often associated with political corruption. This 'graft' itself is likely a figurative extension from the horticultural term for inserting a shoot into a plant, suggesting the illicit "insertion" of personal gain into a position of trust. Thus, a 'grifter' is literally "one who grifts," a professional swindler whose entire occupation is based on skillful deception and confidence tricks.

The word 'grifter' is a simplex noun formed by adding the agentive suffix '-er' to the slang verb 'grift'. The verb 'grift' is an early 20th-century American English alteration of 'graft', a term for dishonest acquisition, especially by politicians.