n. A sleight-of-hand trick played with three small cups, shaped like thimbles, and a small ball or little pea. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Thimblerigged p. pr. & vb. n. Thimblerigging. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who cheats by thimblerigging, or tricks of legerdemain. [ 1913 Webster ]