n. & v.
n. 1 a person of Hebrew descent or whose religion is Judaism. 2 sl. offens. (as a stereotype) a person considered to be parsimonious or to drive a hard bargain in trading. °The stereotype, which is now deeply offensive, arose from historical associations of Jews as moneylenders in medieval England.
v.tr. (jew) sl. offens. get a financial advantage over. jew's harp a small lyre-shaped musical instrument held between the teeth and struck with the finger.
[ ME f. OF giu f. L judaeus f. Gk ioudaios ult. f. Heb. yehd f. yehdâh Judah ]