trickster
(ˈtrɪkstə(r))
[f. trick n. or v. + -ster.]
One who practises trickery; a rogue, cheat, knave.
| 1711 Medley No. 39 The other..was such a Lubbard Trickster, so awkward at Mischief, that he deserv'd only to be laugh'd at. 1741 Richardson Pamela II. 260 Tho' I have won the Game, I hope, Sirs, I am no Trickster. 1844 Disraeli Coningsby ix. vi, The Whigs were known to be feeble; they were looked upon as tricksters. 1879 M{supc}Carthy Own Times II. xviii. 2 Diplomatists..commissioned to act as tricksters. 1879 Dixon Windsor II. xvi. 171 The woman whom he knew to be a trickster. |
| attrib. 1889 Voice (N.Y.) 7 Mar., The bad faith so frequently shown by trickster party leadership. |
Hence
ˈtrickstering, the action of a trickster (also
attrib.);
ˈtrickstress, a female trickster.
| 1821 Scott Kenilw. xxxvi, I like not this lady's tampering and *trickstering with this same Edmund Tressilian. 1883 Times 12 July 10 Due to political trickstering directed against Mr. Bradlaugh. 1889 J. J. Thomas Froudacity 77 Since the trickstering days of Governor Irving. |
| 1870 E. H. Pember Trag. Lesbos viii. 119 Nay, young *trickstress, nay! |