Gauner

From thieves’ cant (Rotwelsch) Jauner, Joner (“gambler, cardsharp”), attested ca. 1500 alongside the verb jonen. Further usually derived from Yiddish יוון (Yoven/Yovon, “Greece”), from Hebrew יָוָן (yāwān), because Greeks were said to be skilful cardsharps (compare French Grec in this sense). The anlaut is due to hypercorrection based on the widespread Central German pronunciation of initial g- as /j/. The form was established by Lessing.

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡaʊ̯nər/, [ˈɡaʊ̯.nɐ]

• Audio:

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Gauner m (strong, genitive Gauners, plural Gauner, feminine Gaunerin)

1. (informal) petty thief, crook, racketeer

   Synonyms: Ganove, Halunke, Kleinkrimineller

2. (informal) sly, cunning person

   Synonyms: Schlitzohr, Schlawiner

• Gaunerei
• gaunern, ergaunern

• Betrüger
• Schwindler

• “Gauner” in Duden online
• “Gauner” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache