1849. Morning Chronicle, 2 Nov. A burglar would not condescend to sit among pickpockets. My informant has known a housebreaker to say with a sneer, when requested to sit down with the gonoffs, 'No, no, I may be a thief, but at least I'm a respectable one.'
1851-61. H. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, Vol. III., p. 325. The gonaff (a Hebrew word signifying a young thief, probably learnt from the Jew 'fences' in the neighbourhood).
1852. Judson, Myst., etc., of New York, ch. vii. He next assumed his present profession, and became a gnof or pickpocket.
1876. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 146. Oh, you tief! you cheat! you gonnof!
1889. Referee, 12 May. Gonophs . . . were frequent in Tattersall's on Friday.
1889. C. T. Clarkson and J. Hall Richardson, Police, p. 321. Boys who creep into houses . . . Young gunneffs or gonophs.
2. (old).—A bumpkin; a churl; a clumsy hand; a shameless simpleton.
1383. Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, 3187-8. Whilom there was, dwelling in Oxenforde, A rich gnof, that gertes helde to borde.
c. 1547. Song (quoted by Hotten). The country gnoffes, Hob, Dick, and Hick, With clubbes and clouted shoon, Shall fill up Dussin Dale With slaughtered bodies soone.
Verb (old).—To wheedle; to cheat; to steal.
Gonophing, subs. (thieves').—Picking
pockets.
1857. Dickens, The Detective Police, in 'Reprinted Pieces,' p. 240. From the swell mob, we diverge to the kindred topics of cracksmen, fences . . . designing young people who go out gonophing, and other 'schools.'
Gooby, subs. (common).—A
simpleton; a blockhead. For
synonyms, see Buffle and
Cabbage-head.
1892. Ally Sloper, 19 Mar., p. 90, c. 3. Why, you old gooby, Mister Sloper will pay us twice as much for the ducks.
Good! subs. (printers').—An abbreviation
of 'Good Night!'
Adj. (colloquial).—Responsible; solvent; principally now with 'for'; e.g., He is good for any amount. Also, expert.
1598. Shakspeare, Merchant of Venice, i., 3. Antonio is a good man: my meaning in saying that he is a good man, is to have you understand me that he is sufficient.
1824. Reynolds, Peter Corcoran, 91 Good with both hands and only ten stone four.
Good goods, in. pl., subs. phr. (sporting).—Something worth trying for; a success. In the superlative, 'best' goods.
1886. Sporting Times, 17 July, 1/4. He was a nice young man for a small tea party, And rather good goods at a Sunday-school treat.
1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, p. 39. Theres Warner in 'Drink'; now, that's business, good goods and no error.
Bit (or Piece) of Goods, subs. phr. (common).—A woman. For synonyms, see Petticoat.
Good old . . . adj. phr. (popular).—A familiar address, derisive or affectionate according to circumstances. See quots.
1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 16 Sept., p. 6, c. 1. It was Mephisto's greeting to Mary Anne—in Marguerite's garden—'Good old Mary Anne!'!!!
Ibid. The famous medico craned his neck out of the window, and, sniffing in the smoke, cried, good old London. This is a true story.
Ibid., 17 Sept. Mr. Chirgwin . . . rouses mirth by . . . exclaiming good old spot! as he discloses the large white ace of diamonds painted over his right optic.
