General
foin
What does foin mean?
Figuratively, to palm or slip something in or out by trickery; the root of the later 'foist upon'.
"She foisted the marked coin into the till as she paid."
Origin
Attested in Robert Greene's coney-catching pamphlets (1591-92) as 'foist' for pickpocket, beside 'nip' for cutpurse. The 'foin' spelling reflects period variation; ultimately from a word meaning to thrust or feint.
Frequently asked questions
What does foin mean in thieves' cant?
A pickpocket — one who 'foisted' a purse out by hand, as opposed to a nip who cut it. Recorded in Greene's 1591 pamphlets.
Is foin the same as foist?
Yes — 'foist' is the more common spelling; both name the pickpocket in Elizabethan rogue literature.
Did the foin use a knife?
No — that was the nip's craft. The foin relied purely on sleight of hand.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
