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halo model a super-product which enhances an entire brand

orphan (second-hand motor trade jargon) any discontinued model of a car

widow’s piano inferior instruments sold as bargains (from an advertisement announcing that a widow lady is compelled to sell her piano, for which she will take half price)

… how they do it …

deaconing (US slang 1866) the practice of packing food so that the finest specimens are visible

shillaber (North American slang 1913) someone posing as an enthusiastic or successful customer to encourage other buyers

trotting (auction jargon) the tactic whereby a dealer’s ring will force an outsider up to an unrealistically high bid, at which point they will drop out and leave their rival with a large bill

bovrilise (1901) to condense an advertisement to essentials

… and those to whom they’re pitching their spiel …

nose picker a salesman’s derogatory description of a potential client who cannot make up their mind and has no power of decision-making within the firm

twack (Newfoundland 1937) a shopper who looks at goods, inquires about prices but buys nothing

grey panthers (US slang) assertive and/or exigent elderly consumers

THE READIES

At the end of it there’s one glorious commodity that makes it all worthwhile:

stadge (Lancashire and Cheshire) the date of issue stamped upon coins

mule (industry jargon) a coin or note which has two mismatched sides

drink-link (Ireland slang 1990s) a cash dispenser

squiddish (Northumberland) the twentieth part of a farthing

chapmoney (Shropshire) money which the seller gives back to the buyer for luck

wergeld (1214) money paid by the killer’s family by way of compensation to free the offender from further punishment

fornale (1478) to spend one’s money before it has been earned

LILIES OF THE FIELD

Although for some fortunate people, such vulgar considerations really don’t figure:

oofy (1896) rich

slippage (US slang 2005) the percentage of people who get a cheque and forget to cash it

set the Thames on fire (UK late 18C) to make a great success in life

stalko (1802) a man who has nothing to do and no fortune to support him but who styles himself as a squire

WORD JOURNEYS

robot (20C from Czech) servitude, forced labour

cattle (13C) property, wealth; then (16C) moveable property; then livestock

up the spout (UK slang b1894) from the spout (lift) used in pawnbrokers’ shops; when items were handed over in return for money they were sent ‘up the spout’ to the storeroom where they stayed until their owner could afford to redeem them

customer (14C) a customs house officer; then (16C) someone the customs officer had to deal with

BULK AND FILE

Crime and punishment

He that helpeth an evill man,

hurteth him that is good

(1597)

The line between making money by sheer hard work and from more dubious practices has always been thin:

vigerage (underworld slang 1935) a loan shark’s 20 per cent weekly interest

flim-flam (underworld slang 1881) the various dodges by which a thief, in changing money, obtains more than he gives from tradesmen and bank-tellers

mocteroof (costermongers’ jargon 1860) to doctor damaged fruit or vegetables

striping the lot (North American slang) the painting of the parking lot at a new shopping mall with extra-wide spacing for the positioning of cars (this gives the impression of the mall attracting more customers than it really does, and when business picks up, the spaces can be repainted somewhat narrower)

quomodocunquize (1652) to make money by any means possible

MY DEAR FELLOW!

Other ways of getting booty out of people may be more extreme:

gagging (c.1825) persuading a stranger that he is an old acquaintance and then borrowing money from him

bull trap (Australia 1930s) a villain who impersonates a policeman and preys on couples in lovers’ lanes, extorting money from those who should not be there

queer plungers (underworld slang 1785) crooks who threw themselves into the water and pretended to be drowning, before being taken by accomplices to one of the