/merr"fee/ , n. , pl. murphies , v. , murphied, murphying . Slang.
n.
1. an Irish or white potato.
2. any of various confidence games in which a victim is left with a sealed envelope supposedly containing money, but which contains only newspaper or scrap paper cut to the same size as paper money.
v.t.
3. to victimize or dupe in such a manner.
[ 1805-15; special uses of Murphy, a typical Irish surname ]