| 释义 |
samfie, n. Caribbean (chiefly Jamaican).
Brit. |ˈsamfʌɪ|, U.S. |ˈsæmˌfaɪ|, Caribbean |ˈsamfaɪ|
Forms: 19– samfai, 19– samfi, 19– samfie
[Origin unknown. A derivation from a a West African language has been suggested, but no very plausible etymon proposed.]
A swindler or confidence trickster, (originally) esp. one who pretends to have occult powers. Chiefly attrib., esp. in samfie man.
1929Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 28 Sept. 19/5 Joseph Hamilton otherwise called 'Yankee' one of the alleged Samfi men was taken in custody early yesterday morning. 1973K. Brathwaite Arrivants 168 The future returns Wreathed in disguises..Disguises of the thief Disguises of the samfie man who whispered at the well. 1980M. Thelwell Harder they Come (1996) Gloss. 398 Samfie, a confidence man, formerly one who tricked the gullible by pretending to occult power. 1997J. B. Breeze in S. Brown & J. Wickham Oxf. Bk. Caribbean Short Stories (1999) 347 Yes, yes, bredrin an sistrin, we have a saviour. It is nat de empty grave dat is important today, dat could have been a samfie man trick, a Nansi game. 2004Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) (Nexis) 29 Feb. You know the fake schemes those samfie e-mails from Nigeria try to involve you in? |