gonnof
Preserved but no longer current.
An expert thief, a master of his craft; one of the greatest compliments a London pickpocket can pay another is to say, "he’s a reglar GONNOF."—See GUN. The word GONNOF is very old. During Kett’s rebellion in Norfolk, in the reign of Edward VI., a song was sung by the insurgents in which the term occurs—
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “gonnof” mean?
An expert thief, a master of his craft; one of the greatest compliments a London pickpocket can pay another is to say, "he’s a reglar GONNOF."—See GUN. The word GONNOF is very old. During Kett’s rebellion in Norfolk, in the reign of Edward VI., a song was sung by the insurgents in which the term occurs—
Is “gonnof” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.