flashman

plural flashmen

1. A slick salesman or spin doctor.

   A flashman just naturally tried to promote and show- off his company at every opportunity. Wasn't that what sales-PR was all about? Even the police departments engaged flashmen.

   1988, Amazing Stories

   1 more example

   "They're all Los Angeles flashmen running this thing. Joe McDonald told anyone who'd listen that they're just a bunch of sleazebags opposed to everything we stand for, dragging show biz into it, and he was right."

   2009, Patricia Morrison, California Screamin, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 90

2. obsoleteA pimp.

   Are not your favourite friends horn-boys and flashmen —

   1818, William Hone, “Interview with Marquiz Boudoir”, in The Three Trials of William Hone, for Publishing Three Parodies: Viz. the Late John Wilkes's Catechism, the Political Litany, and the Sinecurist's Creed; on Three Ex-officit Informations, page 56

   2 more examples

   While loud her flashman cries, 'Arise, my ladybird, arise!'

   1823, Jon Bee, Diet, of the Turf, etc., page 80

   He now had a country seat at Kilmacud and women procured for him by a flashman.

   1998, Padraic O'Farrell, The '98 Reader, →ISBN

3. obsoleteA woman's boyfriend.

   c. 1833, Broadside Ballad, "My flashman has gone to sea". My flashman he's a Yankee, with his hair cut short behind

   1 more example

   Her flashman, in her estimation, is ten times handsomer, certainly more acceptable.

   1819, London, The London Guide, and Stranger's Safeguard, Etc. (Second Edition.)., page 125

4. obsoleteSomeone who distracts the target of a thief; a confidence trickster.

   "Stop your jaw, or I'll stop it for you, and teach you another time to know a gentleman from a flashman."

   1841, Dublin University Magazine: A Literary and Political Journal, page 186

   2 more examples

   By not knowing it: the fellow's manners are so plausible and even insinuating, his appearance so gentlemanly, his voice so winning, that I suffered him to cheat me at Newmarket in the sale of a spavined horse, a regular screw, on the strength of which he claimed my acquaintance ; but as soon as I twigged that he was a flashman — one of the swell mob, I mizzled — gave him the cut direct.

   1843, Horace Smith, Adam Brown, the merchant. By the author of Brambletye house, page 173

   He shared the fate of most country bumpkins on arriving at the metropolis, and was quickly robbed by a flashman, who claimed acquaintance with him and cleared out his fob

   1912, Peter Hampson Ditchfield, The old English country squire, page 260