Gonof (or Gonnof or Gonoph or Gnof), subs. (thieves’).—1. A thief; specifically a pick-pocket, and especially an adept. [From the Hebrew. Ancient English; a legacy from the old time Jews. It came into use again with the moderns who employ it commonly. Cf., gonov = thief in Ex. xxii, 2 and 6, viz., ‘if the gonov be found.’] See Thieves. 1857. Dickens, On Duty with Inspector Field, in ‘Reprinted Pieces’ p. 256. If the smallest gonoph about town were crouching at the bottom of a classic bath Inspector Field would nose him. 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.