huckster
UK: ˈhʌkstə | US: ˈhʌkstər
n. a person who sells small goods, often aggressively or dishonestly
n. (historical) a peddler or hawker
vt. to haggle or bargain aggressively
vi. to promote or sell something in a pushy manner
huckster = huck<to haggle or sell> + ster<agent suffix>
- huck: Derived from Middle Dutch hokester (peddler), related to hucken (to haggle or sell). The term evolved to imply petty or aggressive selling.
- ster: An agentive suffix of Germanic origin (like in "spinster" or "gangster"), denoting a person associated with an action.
Etymology Origin:
The word "huckster" traces back to 12th-century Middle Dutch hokester, reflecting the itinerant traders of medieval Europe. The -ster suffix (common in Old English and Dutch) solidified its meaning as "one who haggles." Over time, it acquired negative connotations of pushy or deceitful salesmanship, especially in American English.
The market was full of hucksters shouting about their cheap wares.
He huckstered his way into selling overpriced trinkets to tourists.
In the 1800s, hucksters traveled from town to town with their carts.
She accused the politician of huckstering false promises.
Avoid street hucksters offering "exclusive" deals.