The story
Presumed (but not proven) to be a back-formation from illywhacker.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
whack the illy
Today it means: To carry on small-time confidence tricks, i.e. the activity of an illywhacker. Full definition →
Today it means: To carry on small-time confidence tricks, i.e. the activity of an illywhacker. Full definition →
Presumed (but not proven) to be a back-formation from illywhacker.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.