Huckster
HUCKSTER, a dealer or retailer of goods in a small way. The word, in various forms, is common to many Teutonic languages. In Early English it is found as howkestcr, hokester, huxter', in early modern Dutch as heuker, and Medieval Low German as hoker; but the ultimate origin is unknown. Huckster apparently belongs to that series of words formed from a verb, as brew, brewer; but the noun " huckster " is found in use before the verb to huck. Hawker and pedlar are nearly synonymous in meaning, but " huckster " may include a person in a small way of trade in a settled habitation, while a hawker or pedlar invariably travels from place to place offering his wares. In a contemptuous sense, huckster is used of any one who barters, or makes gain or profit in underhand or mean ways, or who over-reaches another, to get advantage for himself.
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)
