thimblerig

Thim"ble*rig`, n. Defn: A sleight-of-hand trick played with three small cups, shaped like thimbles, and a small ball or little pea. Thim"ble*rig`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Thimblerigged; p. pr. & vb. n. Thimblerigging.] Defn: To swindle by means of small cups or thimbles, and a pea or small ball placed under one of them and quickly shifted to another, the victim laying a wager that he knows under which cup it is; hence, to cheat by any trick.

---