| 18th Century Thieves Cant |
|---|
| Occupations |
| Occupations : Bailiffs, Beadles and Constables |
|---|
| BANDOG | a Bailiff or his Follower; a Sergeant or his Yeomen. | 1737 |
| BANDOG | A bailiff or his follower; also a very fierce mastiff: likewise, a bandbox. CANT. | 1811 |
| BECK | HARMANBECK; a Beadle | 1737 |
| BECK | A beadle. See HERMANBECK. | 1811 |
| BUM | a Bailiff or Serjeant. | 1737 |
| BUM BAILIFF | A sheriffs officer, who arrests debtors; so called perhaps from following his prey, and being at their bums, or, as the vulgar phrase is, hard at their a-ses. Blackstone says, it is a corruption of bound bailiff, from their being obliged to give bond for their good behaviour. | 1811 |
| BUM TRAP | A sheriffs officer who arrests debtors. Ware hawke! the bum traps are fly to our panney; keep a good look out, the bailiffs know where our house is situated. | 1811 |
| BUM-TRAP | a sheriff's officer or his follower. | 1819 |
| BUS-NAPPER | A constable. CANT. | 1811 |
| BUS-NAPPERS KENCHIN | A watchman. CANT. | 1811 |
| CATCH POLE | A bum bailiff, or sheriffs officer. | 1811 |
| CATCH-POLL | a Serjeant, or Bayliff, that arrests People. | 1737 |
| CHARLEY | a watchman. | 1819 |
| FLOGGING COVE | The beadle, or whipper, in Bridewell. | 1811 |
| FLOGGING-COVE | the Beadle, or Whipper in Bridewell, or any such Place. | 1737 |
| FOOL FINDER | A bailiff. | 1811 |
| HAMLET | a High Constable. | 1737 |
| HAMLET | A high constable. Cant. | 1811 |
| HARMAN | a Constable. | 1737 |
| HARMAN | A constable. CANT. | 1811 |
| HARMAN BECK | A beadle. CANT. | 1811 |
| HARMANBECK | a Beadle. | 1737 |
| HORNEY | a constable. | 1819 |
| LURCHER | A lurcher of the law; a bum bailiff, or his setter. | 1811 |
| MOABITES | Serjeants, Bailiffs and their Crew. | 1737 |
| MOABITES | Bailiffs, or Philistines. | 1811 |
| MYRMIDONS | the Constables Attendants, or those whom he commands (in the Kings Name) to aid and assist him: Also the Watchmen. | 1737 |
| MYRMIDONS | The constables assistants, watchmen, &c. | 1811 |
| NIGHT MAGISTRATE | A constable. | 1811 |
| NIGHT-MAGISTRATE | a Constable. | 1737 |
| PHILISTINES | Serjeants, Bailiffs and their Crew. Also Drunkards. I fell among the Philistines, I chopt upon a Knot of drunken Fellows. | 1737 |
| PHILISTINES | Bailiffs, or officers of justice; also drunkards. | 1811 |
| PIG | A police officer. A China street pig; a Bow-street officer. Floor the pig and bolt; knock down the officer and run away. | 1811 |
| PIGS or GRUNTERS | police runners. | 1819 |
| QUEER CUFFIN | A justice of the peace; also a churl. | 1811 |
| QUOD-COVE | the keeper of a gaol. | 1819 |
| ROLLERS | horse and foot patrole, who parade the roads round about London during the night, for the prevention of robberies. | 1819 |
| RUM BECK | A justice of the peace. CANT. | 1811 |
| SCOUT | a watchman. | 1819 |
| SETTER | A bailiffs follower, who, like a setting dog follows and points the game for his master. Also sometimes an exciseman. | 1811 |
| SHOULDER CLAPPER | A bailiff, or member of the catch club. Shoulder-clapped; arrested. | 1811 |
| SHOULDER-CLAPPER | a Serjeant or Bailiff. | 1737 |
| TAPPERS | Shoulder tappers: bailiffs. | 1811 |
| THINGSTABLE | Mr. Thingstable; Mr. Constable: a ludicrous affectation of delicacy in avoiding the pronunciation of the first syllable in the title of that officer, which in sound has some similarity to an indecent monosyllable. | 1811 |
| TRAPS | Constables and thief-takers. CANT. | 1811 |
| TRAPS | police officers, or runners, are properly so called ; but it is common to include constables of any description under this title. | 1819 |
| Occupations : Coachmen and Waggoners |
|---|
| COUNTRY HARRY | A waggoner. CANT. | 1811 |
| DRAG-COVE | the driver of a cart. | 1819 |
| HELL FIRE DICK | The Cambridge driver of the Telegraph. The favorite companion of the University fashionables, and the only tutor to whose precepts they attend. | 1811 |
| HELL-DRIVER | a Coachman. | 1737 |
| JACK-BOY | a postillion. | 1819 |
| JARVIS | A hackney coachman. | 1811 |
| JERVIS | a coachman. | 1819 |
| KNIGHT OF THE WHIP | A coachman. | 1811 |
| RATTLING COVE | a Coach-man. | 1737 |
| RATTLING COVE | A coachman. CANT. | 1811 |
| SMACKING COVE | A coachman. | 1811 |
| SMACKING-COVE | a Coachman. | 1737 |
| VARDO-GILL | a waggoner. | 1819 |
| Occupations : Doctors and Midwives |
|---|
| BOLUS | A nick name for an apothecary. | 1811 |
| CLYSTER PIPE | A nick name for an apothecary. | 1811 |
| FINGER-SMITH | a midwife. | 1819 |
| GALLIPOT | A nick name for an apothecary, | 1811 |
| GROPERS | Midwives. | 1811 |
| LOBLOLLEY BOY | A nick name for the surgeons servant on board a man of war, sometimes for the surgeon himself: from the water gruel prescribed to the sick, which is called loblolley. | 1811 |
| MOTHER MIDNIGHT | a Midwife (often a Bawd). | 1737 |
| NIM GIMMER | a Doctor, Surgeon, Apothecary, or any one that cures a Clap or a Pox. | 1737 |
| NIMGIMMER | A physician or surgeon, particularly those who cure the venereal disease. | 1811 |
| PISS PROPHET | A physician who judges of the diseases of his patients solely by the inspection of their urine. | 1811 |
| QUACK | An ungraduated ignorant pretender to skill in physic, a vender of nostrums. | 1811 |
| QUACK-SALVER | A mountebank: a seller of salves. | 1811 |
| RABBIT CATCHER | A midwife. | 1811 |
| WATER SCRIGER, A doctor who prescribes from insp | See PISS PROPHET. | 1811 |
| Occupations : Inn-keepers and Vintners |
|---|
| ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE | A landlord or publican wearing a blue apron, as was formerly the custom among gentlemen of that vocation. | 1811 |
| ALE DRAPER | An alehouse keeper. | 1811 |
| BEGGAR MAKER | A publican, or ale-house keeper. | 1811 |
| BLUE FLAG | He has hoisted the blue flag; he has commenced publican, or taken a public house, an allusion to the blue aprons worn by publicans. See ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE. | 1811 |
| BLUFFER | an Inn-keeper or victualler. | 1737 |
| BLUFFER | An inn-keeper. Cant. | 1811 |
| DASH | a Tavern-Drawer. | 1737 |
| DASH | A tavern drawer. To cut a dash: to make a figure. | 1811 |
| DRAPER | An ale draper; an alehouse keeper. | 1811 |
| FLASH-COVE or COVESS | the landlord or landlady of a flash-ken. | 1819 |
| GIN SPINNER | A distiller. | 1811 |
| NECK-STAMPER | the Pot-Boy at a Tavern or Ale-house. | 1737 |
| QUEER BLUFFER | The master of a public-house the resort of rogues and sharpers, a cut-throat inn or alehouse keeper. | 1811 |
| RUM BLUFFER | A jolly host. CANT. | 1811 |
| RUM DROPPER | A vintner. CANT. | 1811 |
| RUM-BLUFFER | a jolly Host, Inn-keeper, or Victualler. | 1737 |
| RUM-DROPPER | a Vintner. | 1737 |
| RUM-HOPPER | a Drawer. Rum-hopper, tip us presently a Boozing-cheat of Rum gutlers; Drawer, fill us presently a Bottle of the best Canary. | 1737 |
| SUPOUCH | A landlady of an inn, or hostess. | 1811 |
| Occupations : Judges and Law-enforcers |
|---|
| BEAK | A justice of-peace, or magistrate. Also a judge or chairman who presides in court. I clappd my peepers full of tears, and so the old beak set me free; I began to weep, and the judge set me free. | 1811 |
| BEAK | a magistrate ; the late Sir John Fielding, of police memory, was known among family people by the title of the blind beak. | 1819 |
| DUB-COVE or DUBSMAN | a turnkey. | 1819 |
| FORTUNE TELLER, or CUNNING MAN | A judge, who tells every prisoner his fortune, lot or doom. To go before the fortune teller, lambskin men, or conjuror; to be tried at an assize. See LAMBSKIN MEN. | 1811 |
| FORTUNE-Tellers | the Judges of Life and Death. | 1737 |
| KETCH | Jack Ketch; a general name for the finishers of the law, or hangmen, ever since the year 1682, when the office was filled by a famous practitioner of that name, of whom his wife said, that any bungler might put a man to death, but only her husband knew how to make a gentleman die sweetly. This officer is mentioned in Butlers Ghost, page 54, published about the year 1682, in the following lines: Till Ketch observing he was choud, And in his profits much abusd In open hall the tribute dunnd, To do his office, or refund. Mr Ketch had not long been elevated to his office, for the name of his predecessor Dun occurs in the former part of this poem, page 29: For you yourself to act squire Dun, Such ignominy neer saw the sun. The addition of squire,with which Mr Dun is here dignified, is a mark that he had beheaded some state criminal for high treason; an operation which, according to custom for time out of mind, has always entitled the operator to that distinction. The predecessor of Dun | 1811 |
| LAMB-SKIN MEN | the Judges of the several Courts. | 1737 |
| LAMBSKIN MEN | The judges: from their robes lined and bordered with ermine. | 1811 |
| NUBBING-COVE | the Hangman. | 1737 |
| QUEERE-CUSSIN | a Justice of Peace; also a churl. | 1737 |
| RUM-BECK | any Justice of the Peace. | 1737 |
| THIEF-TAKERS | who make a Trade of helping People (for a Gratuity) to their lost Goods and sometimes, for Interest, or Envy, snapping the Rogues themselves, being usually in Fee with them, and acquainted with their Haunts. | 1737 |
| TO NOSE | To give evidence. To inform. His pall nosed and he was twisted for a crack; his confederate turned kings evidence, and he was hanged for burglary. | 1811 |
| TOPPING COVE | The hangman. CANT. | 1811 |
| TOPPING-COVE | the Hangman. | 1737 |
| Occupations : Lawyers |
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| AMBIDEXTER | a Lawyer that takes Fees of Plaintiff and Defendant at once. | 1737 |
| AMBIDEXTER | A lawyer who takes fees from both plaintiff and defendant, or that goes snacks with both parties in gaming. | 1811 |
| BLACK-BOX | a Lawyer. | 1737 |
| CURSITORS | reduced Lawyers, assuming to themselves the Knowledge of the Quirks and Quiddities of the Law, and are perpetually fomenting litigious Brawls, and insignificant Contentions, among the Scum of the Vulgar. | 1737 |
| CURSITORS | Broken petty-fogging attornies, or Newgate solicitors. CANT. | 1811 |
| GREEN BAG | a Lawyer. | 1737 |
| GREEN BAG | An attorney: those gentlemen carry their clients deeds in a green bag; and, it is said, when they have no deeds to carry, frequently fill them with an old pair of breeches, or any other trumpery, to give themselves the appearance of business. | 1811 |
| JET | a Lawyer. | 1737 |
| LATITAT | A nick-name for an attorney; from the name of a writ. | 1811 |
| LIMB OF THE LAW | An inferior or pettyfogging attorney. | 1811 |
| NEWGATE SOLICITOR | A petty fogging and roguish attorney, who attends the gaols to assist villains in evading justice. | 1811 |
| PETTY FOGGER | A little dirty attorney, ready to undertake any litigious or bad cause: it is derived from the French words petit vogue, of small credit, or little reputation. | 1811 |
| PUZZLE-CAUSE | A lawyer who has a confused understanding. | 1811 |
| SIX AND EIGHT-PENCE | An attorney, whose fee on several occasions is fixed at that sum. | 1811 |
| SON OF PRATTLEMENT | a Lawyer. | 1737 |
| SON OF PRATTLEMENT | A lawyer. | 1811 |
| SPLIT CAUSE | A lawyer. | 1811 |
| SPLITTER-OF-CAUSES | a Lawyer. | 1737 |
| Occupations : Musicians, Entertainers and Dancing Masters |
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| BROTHER OF THE STRING | a Fiddler, or Harper. | 1737 |
| CAPER MERCHANT | A dancing master, or hop mercbant; marchand des capriolles. FRENCH TERM.--To cut papers; to leap or jump in dancing. See HOP MERCHANT. | 1811 |
| CAPTAIN PODD | A celebrated master of a puppet-shew, in Ben Johnsons time, whose name became a common one to signify any of that fraternity. | 1811 |
| CHAUNTER CULLS | Grub-street writers, who compose songs, carrols, &c. for ballad-singers. CANT. | 1811 |
| CROWD | A fiddle: probably from CROOTH, the Welch name for that instrument. | 1811 |
| CROWDERO | A fiddler. | 1811 |
| FAULKNER | a Tumbler, a Juggler, a Shewer of Tricks, etc. | 1737 |
| FAULKNER | A tumbler, juggler, or shewer of tricks; perhaps because they lure the people, as a faulconer does his hawks. CANT. | 1811 |
| FAYTORS, or FATORS | Fortune tellers. | 1811 |
| FLYING STATIONERS | Ballad-singers and hawkers of penny histories. | 1811 |
| GUT SCRAPER, or TORMENTOR of CATGUT | A fiddler. | 1811 |
| HOP MERCHANT | A dancing master. See CAPER MERCHANT. | 1811 |
| HOP-MERCHANT | a Dancing-master. | 1737 |
| KIT | a Dancing Master. | 1737 |
| KIT | A dancing-master, so called from his kit or cittern, a small fiddle, which dancing-masters always carry about with them, to play to their scholars. The kit is likewise the whole of a soldiers necessaries, the contents of his knapsack: and is used also to express the whole of different commodities: as, Here, take the whole kit; i.e. take all. | 1811 |
| RAREE SHEW MEN | Poor Savoyards, who subsist by shewing the magic lantern and marmots about London. | 1811 |
| RAREE-SHOW-MEN | poor Savoyards strolling up and down with portable Boxes of Puppet-shows at their Backs; Pedlars of Puppets. | 1737 |
| RUMP AND KIDNEY MEN | Fidlers that play at Feasts, Fairs, Weddings etc. and live chiefly on the Remnants of Victuals. | 1737 |
| SCRAPER | A fiddler; also one who scrapes plates for mezzotinto prints. | 1811 |
| SHEEPSKIN FIDDLER | A drummer. | 1811 |
| SOLO PLAYER | A miserable performer on any instrument, who always plays alone, because no one will stay in the room to hear him. | 1811 |
| TORMENTER OF CATGUT | A fiddler. | 1811 |
| TORMENTER OF SHEEP SKIN | A drummer. | 1811 |
| WAITS | Musicians of the lower order, who in most towns play under the windows of the chief inhabitants at midnight, a short time before Christmas, for which they collect a christmas-box from house to house. They are said to derive their name of waits from being always in waiting to celebrate weddings and other joyous events happening within their district. | 1811 |
| ZANY | a Mountebanks Merry-Andrew, or Jester, to distinguish him from a Lords Fool. | 1737 |
| ZANY | The jester, jack pudding, or merry andrew, to a mountebank. | 1811 |
| Occupations : Other Occupations |
|---|
| BADGE-COVES | Parish-Pensioners | 1737 |
| BADGE-COVES | Parish Pensioners. Cant. | 1811 |
| BANG STRAW | A nick name for a thresher, but applied to all the servants of a farmer. | 1811 |
| BELLOWER | The town crier. | 1811 |
| BROUGHTONIAN | A boxer: a disciple of Broughton, who was a beef-eater, and once the best boxer of his day. | 1811 |
| BRUISER | A boxer; one skilled in the ar of boxing also an inferior workman among chasers. | 1811 |
| CARRION HUNTER | An undertaker; called also a cold cook, and death hunter. See COLD COOK and DEATH HUNTER. | 1811 |
| CENT PER CENT | An usurer. | 1811 |
| CLOD HOPPER | A country farmer, or ploughman. | 1811 |
| CLOD-HOPPER | a Ploughman. | 1737 |
| CODDERS | Persons employed by the gardeners to gather peas. | 1811 |
| COLD-COOK | an Undertaker of Funerals. | 1737 |
| COLLEGE COVE | The College cove has numbered him, and if he is knocked down hell be twisted; the turnkey of Newgate has told the judge how many times the prisoner has been tried before and therefore if he is found guilty, he certainly will be hanged. It is said to be the custom of the Old Bailey for one of the turnkeys of Newgate to give information to the judge how many times an old offender has been tried, by holding up as many fingers as the number of times the prisoner has been before arraigned at that bar. | 1811 |
| COOL-LADY | a Wench that sells Brandy (in Camps) a Suttler. | 1737 |
| DEATH HUNTER | An undertaker, one who furnishes the necessary articles for funerals. See CARRION HUNTER. | 1811 |
| DEATH-HUNTER | an undertaker. | 1819 |
| DEUSEA VILLE STAMPERS | Country carriers. Cant. | 1811 |
| DEUSEAVILE-STAMPERS | Country Carriers. | 1737 |
| DEVIL | A printers errand-boy. | 1811 |
| DEVIL | A printers errand-boy. Also a small thread in the kings ropes and cables, whereby they may be distinguished from all others. The Devil himself; a small streak of blue thread in the kings sails. The Devil may dance in his pocket; i.e. he has no money: the cross on our ancient coins being jocularly supposed to prevent him from visiting that place, for fear, as it is said, of breaking his shins against it. To hold a candle to the Devil; to be civil to any one out of fear: in allusion to the story of the old woman, who set a wax taper before the image of St. Michael, and another before the Devil, whom that saint is commonly represented as trampling under his feet: being reproved for paying such honour to Satan, she answered, as it was uncertain which place she should go to, heaven or hell, she chose to secure a friend in both places. That will be when the Devil is blind, and he has not got sore eyes yet; said of any thing unlikely to happen. It rains whilst the sun shines, the Devil is beating h | 1811 |
| DEVIL DRAWER | A miserable painter. | 1811 |
| DEVIL-DRAWER | a sorry Painter. | 1737 |
| DUB AT A KNAPPING-JIGGER | a collector of tolls at a turnpike-gate. | 1819 |
| FEUTERER | A dog-keeper: from the French vautrier, or vaultrier, one that leads a lime hound for the chase. | 1811 |
| FIBBING-GLOAK | a pugilist. | 1819 |
| FLESH BROKER | a Match-maker; also a Bawd | 1737 |
| FLESH BROKER | A match-maker, a bawd. | 1811 |
| FLUE-FAKER | a chimney-sweeper. | 1819 |
| FLUTE | the Recorder of London, or of any other Town. | 1737 |
| FLUTE | The recorder of a corporation; a recorder was an antient musical instrument. | 1811 |
| FUR-MEN | Aldermen. | 1737 |
| FURMEN | Aldermen. | 1811 |
| GOLD FINDER | One whose employment is to empty necessary houses; called also a tom-turd-man, and night-man: the latter, from that business being always performed in the night. | 1811 |
| GOLD FINDER | One whose employment is to empty necessary houses; called also a tom-turd-man, and night-man: the latter, from that business being always performed in the night. | 1811 |
| GREENWICH GOOSE | A pensioner of Greenwich Hospital. | 1811 |
| GREY PARSON | A farmer who rents the tithes of the rector or vicar. | 1811 |
| GYP | A college runner or errand-boy at Cambridge, called at Oxford a scout. See SCOUT. | 1811 |
| HACKNEY WRITER | One who writes for attornies or booksellers. | 1811 |
| HACKS | or Hackneys; Hirelings. | 1737 |
| HAND | A sailor. We lost a hand; we lost a sailor. Bear a hand; make haste. Hand to fist; opposite: the same as tete-a-tete, or cheek by joul. | 1811 |
| HORSE COSER | A dealer in horses: vulgarly and corruptly pronounced HORSE COURSER. The verb TO COSE was used by the Scots, in the sense of bartering or exchanging. | 1811 |
| HUCKSTERS | Itinerant retailers of provisions. He is in hucksters hands; he is in a bad way. | 1811 |
| JACK KETCH | The hangman; vide DERRICK and KETCH. | 1811 |
| JACK NASTY FACE | A sea term, signifying a common sailor. | 1811 |
| JACK TAR | A sailor. | 1811 |
| JEWS | Brokers behind St. Clements Church in London, so called by (their Brethren) the Taylors. | 1737 |
| JINGLERS | Horse cosers, frequenting country fairs. | 1811 |
| KEEL BULLIES | Men employed to load and unload the coal vessels. | 1811 |
| KEEL-BULLIES | Lightermen that carry coals to and from the Ships, so called in Derision. | 1737 |
| LAGGER | a sailor. | 1819 |
| LILY WHITE | A chimney-sweeper. | 1811 |
| MAGGOT BOILER | A tallow-chandler. | 1811 |
| MASTER OF THE MINT | A gardener. | 1811 |
| MASTER OF THE ROLLS | A baker. | 1811 |
| MILLING COVE | A boxer. How the milling cove served the cull out; how the boxer beat the fellow. | 1811 |
| MILLING-COVE | a pugilist. | 1819 |
| MOW HEATER | A drover: from their frequent sleeping on hay mows. CANT. | 1811 |
| MOW-HEATER | a Drover. | 1737 |
| MUTE | An undertakers servant, who stands at the door of a person lying in state: so named from being supposed mute with grief. | 1811 |
| NIGHTMAN | One whose business it is to empty necessary houses in London, which is always done in the night; the operation is called a wedding. See WEDDING. | 1811 |
| NULLING-COVE | a pugilist. | 1819 |
| PHOENIX-MEN | Firemen belonging to an insurance office, which gave a badge charged with a phoenix: these men were called likewise firedrakes. | 1811 |
| PLYER | a Crutch; also a Trader. | 1737 |
| PLYER | A crutch; also a trader. | 1811 |
| PONTIUS PILATE | A pawnbroker. Pontius Pilates guards, the first regiment of foot, or Royal Scots: so intitled from their supposed great antiquity. Pontius Pilates counsellor; one who like him can say, Non invenio causam, I can find no cause. Also (Cambridge) a Mr. Shepherd of Trinity College; who disputing with a brother parson on the comparative rapidity with which they read the liturgy, offered to give him as far as Pontius Pilate in the Belief. | 1811 |
| POST MASTER GENERAL | The prime minister, who has the patronage of all posts and places. | 1811 |
| POST NOINTER | A house painter, who occasionally paints or anoints posts. Knight of the post; a false evidence, one ready to swear any thing for hire. From post to pillar; backwards and forwards. | 1811 |
| QUILL DRIVER | A clerk, scribe, or hackney writer. | 1811 |
| RESURRECTION MEN | Persons employed by the students in anatomy to steal dead bodies out of church-yards. | 1811 |
| RESURRECTION-COVE | a stealer of dead bodies. | 1819 |
| RUNNING STATIONERS | Hawkers, or those that cry News and Books about the Streets. | 1737 |
| RUNNING STATIONERS | Hawker of newspapers, trials, and dying speeches. | 1811 |
| SCALY FISH | An honest, rough, blunt sailor. | 1811 |
| SCOUT | A college errand-boy at Oxford, called a gyp at Cambridge. Also a watchman or a watch. CANT. | 1811 |
| SEA CRAB | A sailor. | 1811 |
| SHERIFFS JOURNEYMAN | The hangman. | 1811 |
| STRANGLE GOOSE | A poulterer. | 1811 |
| TALESMAN | as, I tell you my Tale, and my Talesman, or Author. | 1737 |
| TALLY MEN | Brokers that let out clothes to the women of the town. See RABBIT SUCKERS. | 1811 |
| TALLY-MEN | Brokers that let out Cloaths to wear per Week, Month or Year. See Rabbit-Suckers. | 1737 |
| TEN IN THE HUNDRED | An usurer; more than five in the hundred being deemed usurious interest. | 1811 |
| TO YELP | To cry out. Yelper; a town cryer, also one apt to make great complaints on trifling occasions. | 1811 |
| TOM T--DMAN | A night man, one who empties necessary houses. | 1811 |
| TURKEY MERCHANT | A poulterer. | 1811 |
| TURKEY MERCHANTS | Drivers of Turkeys. | 1737 |
| UNDER DUBBER | A turnkey. | 1811 |
| WALKING STATIONER | A hawker of pamphlets, &c. | 1811 |
| WHOW BALL | A milk-maid: from their frequent use of the word whow, to make the cow stand still in milking. Ball is the supposed name of the cow. | 1811 |
| WHOW-BALL | a Milk-maid. | 1737 |
| WINDOW PEEPER | A collector of the window tax. | 1811 |
| YELPER | a Town-Cryer; also, one subject to complain, or make pitiful Lamentation for trifling Incidents. | 1737 |
| Occupations : Priests and Parsons |
|---|
| AMEN CURLER | A parish clerk. | 1811 |
| AUTEM BAWLER | A parson. CANT. | 1811 |
| AUTEM JET | a Parson. | 1737 |
| AUTEM-BAWLER | a Preacher, or Parson, of any sect. | 1737 |
| BLACK-COAT | a Parson. | 1737 |
| BODY OF DIVINITY BOUND IN BLACK CALF | A parson. | 1811 |
| CANTICLE | A parish clerk. | 1811 |
| CHUCK FARTHING | A parish clerk. | 1811 |
| CHUCK-FARTHING | a Parish Clerk. | 1737 |
| DEVIL CATCHER, or DEVIL DRIVER | A parson. See SNUB DEVIL. | 1811 |
| FINGER POST | A parson: so called, because he points out a way to others which he never goes himself. Like the finger post, he points out a way he has never been, and probably will never go, i.e. the way to heaven. | 1811 |
| GLUEPOT | A parson: from joining men and women together in matrimony. | 1811 |
| HEDGE PRIEST | An illiterate unbeneficed curate, a patrico. | 1811 |
| JACK AT A PINCH | a poor Hackney Parson. | 1737 |
| LEVITE | a Priest or Parson. | 1737 |
| LEVITE | A priest or parson. | 1811 |
| MESS JOHN | A Scotch presbyterian teacher or parson. | 1811 |
| NOSE GENT | A nun. | 1811 |
| NOSE-GENT | a Recluse or Nun. | 1737 |
| OLD-DOG AT COMMON-PRAYER | a poor Hackney Parson that can read but not preach well. | 1737 |
| ONE IN TEN | a Parson. | 1737 |
| ONE IN TEN | A parson: an allusion to his tithes. | 1811 |
| PARISH BULL | A parson. | 1811 |
| PARSONS JOURNEYMAN | A curate. | 1811 |
| PATRI-COVES | or Pater Cove; strolling Priests that marry under a Hedge, without Gospel or Common-prayer Book: The couple standing on each side a dead Beast, are bid to live together till Death them does part; so shaking Hands the Wedding is ended, also any Minister, or Parson. | 1737 |
| PATRICO, or PATER-COVE | The fifteenth rank of the canting tribe; strolling priests that marry people under a hedge, without gospel or common prayer book: the couple standing on each side of a dead beast, are bid to live together till death them does part; so shaking hands, the wedding is ended. Also any minister or parson. | 1811 |
| POSTILION OF THE GOSPEL | A parson who hurries over the service. | 1811 |
| PRUNELLA | Mr. Prunella; a parson: parsons gowns being frequently made of prunella. | 1811 |
| PUDDING SLEEVES | A parson. | 1811 |
| PUZZLE-TEXT | An ignorant blundering parson. | 1811 |
| SCHISM MONGER | A dissenting teacher. | 1811 |
| SHOD ALL ROUND | A parson who attends a funeral is said to be shod all round, when he receives a hat-band, gloves, and scarf: many shoeings being only partial. | 1811 |
| SIR JOHN | the Country-Vicar or Parson. | 1737 |
| SIR JOHN | The old title for a country parson: as Sir John of Wrotham, mentioned by Shakespeare. | 1811 |
| SNUB DEVIL | A parson. | 1811 |
| SOLFA | A parish clerk. | 1811 |
| SOUL DOCTOR, or DRIVER | A parson. | 1811 |
| SOUL-DRIVER | a Parson. | 1737 |
| SPIRITUAL FLESH BROKER | A parson. | 1811 |
| SPIRITUAL-FLESH BROKER | a Parson. | 1737 |
| SPOIL PUDDING | A parson who preaches long sermons, keeping his congregation in church till the puddings are overdone. | 1811 |
| TICKLE TEXT | A parson. | 1811 |
| TUB THUMPER | A presbyterian parson. | 1811 |
| TURNPIKE MAN | A parson; because the clergy collect their tolls at our entrance into and exit from the world. | 1811 |
| UNGRATEFUL MAN | A parson, who at least once a week abuses his best benefactor, i.e. the devil. | 1811 |
| Occupations : Related Terms |
|---|
| CHARLEY-KEN | a watch-box. | 1819 |
| SCOUT-KEN | a watch-house. | 1819 |
| Occupations : Scholars and Teachers |
|---|
| BEAR LEADER | A travelling tutor. | 1811 |
| BUM BRUSHER | A schoolmaster. | 1811 |
| FLAYBOTTOMIST | A bum-brusher, or schoolmaster. | 1811 |
| HABERDASHER OF NOUNS AND PRONOUNS | a Schoolmaster or Usher. | 1737 |
| HABERDASHER OF PRONOUNS | A schoolmaster, or usher. | 1811 |
| PUPIL MONGERS | Tutors at the Universities. | 1737 |
| PUPIL MONGERS | Persons at the universities who make it their business to instruct and superintend a number of pupils. | 1811 |
| SON OF APOLLO | a Scholar. | 1737 |
| SYNTAX | A schoolmaster. | 1811 |
| TICKLE TAIL | A rod, or schoolmaster. A mans penis. | 1811 |
| Occupations : Servants |
|---|
| ABIGAIL | A ladys waiting-maid. | 1811 |
| BED-MAKER | Women employed at Cambridge to attend on the Students, sweep his room, &c. They will put their hands to any thing, and are generally blest with a pretty family of daughters: who unmake the beds, as fast as they are made by their mothers. | 1811 |
| BONE PICKER | A footman. | 1811 |
| BOOT CATCHER | The servant at an inn whose business it is to clean the boots of the guest. | 1811 |
| CATCH FART | A footboy; so called from such servants commonly following close behind their master or mistress. | 1811 |
| CATCH-FART | a Foot-boy | 1737 |
| CINDER GARBLER | A servant maid, from her business of sifting the ashes from the cinders. CUSTOM-HOUSE WIT. | 1811 |
| FART CATCHER | A valet or footman from his walking behind his master or mistress. | 1811 |
| FART CATCHER | A valet or footman from his walking behind his master or mistress. | 1811 |
| KNIGHT OF THE RAINBOW | A footman: from the variety of colours in the liveries and trimming of gentlemen of that cloth. | 1811 |
| MOPSQUEEZER | A maid servant, particularly a housemaid. | 1811 |
| NAN | a Servant-maid. | 1737 |
| PANNIER MAN | A servant belonging to the Temple and Grays Inn, whose office is to announce the dinner. This in the Temple, is done by blowing a horn; and in Grays Inn proclaiming the word Manger, Manger, Manger, in each of the three courts. | 1811 |
| PANTLER | a Butler. | 1737 |
| PANTLER | A butler. | 1811 |
| RAINBOW | Knight of the rainbow; a footman: from being commonly clothed in garments of different colours. A meeting of gentlemen, styled of the most ancient order of the rainbow, was advertised to be held at the Foppingtons Head, Moorfields. | 1811 |
| SKIP KENNEL | A footman. | 1811 |
| SLAVEY | a servant of either sex. | 1819 |
| TALE TELLERS | Persons said to have been formerly hired to tell wonderful stories of giants and fairies, to lull their hearers to sleep. Talesman; the author of a story or report: Ill tell you my tale, and my talesman. Tale bearers; mischief makers, incendiaries in families. | 1811 |
| TALE-TELLERS | a sort of Servants in use with the great Men in Ireland, to lull them asleep with Stories of a Cock and a Bull, etc. | 1737 |
| VALET | a Servant. | 1737 |
| WOMAN OF ALL WORK | Sometimes applied to a female servant, who refuses none of her masters commands. | 1811 |
| Occupations : Soldiers |
|---|
| BEEF EATER | A yeoman of the guards, instituted by Henry VII. Their office was to stand near the bouffet, or cupboard, thence called Bouffetiers, since corrupted to Beef Eaters. Others suppose they obtained this name from the size of their persons, and the easiness of their duty, as having scarce more to do than to eat the kings beef. | 1811 |
| BROTHER OF THE BLADE | a Sword-man or Soldier. | 1737 |
| BROTHER OF THE BLADE | A soldier BUSKIN. A player. BUNG. A brewer QUILL. An author. STRING. A fiddler. WHIP. A coachman. | 1811 |
| CATERPILLAR | A nick name for a soldier. In the year 1745, a soldier quartered at a house near Derby, was desired by his landlord to call upon him, whenever he came that way; for, added he, soldiers are the pillars of the nation. The rebellion being finished, it happened the same regiment was quartered in Derbyshire, when the soldier resolved to accept of his landlords invitation, and accordingly obtained leave to go to him: but, on his arrival, he was greatly surprised to find a very cold reception; whereupon e | 1811 |
| FOOT WABBLER | A contemptuous appellation for a foot soldier, commonly used by the cavalry. | 1811 |
| FOOT WABBLER | A contemptuous appellation for a foot soldier, commonly used by the cavalry. | 1811 |
| GALLOOT | a soldier. | 1819 |
| LIGHT BOB | A soldier of the light infantry company. | 1811 |
| LOBSTER | a red Coat Soldier. | 1737 |
| LOBSTER | A nick name for a soldier, from the colour of his clothes. To boil ones lobster, for a churchman to become a soldier: lobsters, which are of a bluish black, being made red by boiling. I will not make a lobster kettle of my ****, a reply frequently made by the nymphs of the Point at Portsmouth, when requested by a soldier to grant him a favour. | 1811 |
| NIGHTINGALE | A soldier who, as the term is, sings out at the halberts. It is a point of honour in some regiments, among the grenadiers, never to cry out, become nightingales, whilst under the discipline of the cat of nine tails; to avoid which, they chew a bullet. | 1811 |
| PARISH SOLDIER | A jeering name for a militiaman: from substitutes being frequently hired by the parish from which one of its inhabitants is drawn. | 1811 |
| RAG CARRIER | An ensign. | 1811 |
| ROAST AND BOILED | A nick name for the Life Guards, who are mostly substantial house-keepers; and eat daily of roast and boiled. | 1811 |
| SHIFTING BALLAST | A term used by sailors, to signify soldiers, passengers, or any landsmen on board. | 1811 |
| SON OF MARS | a Soldier. | 1737 |
| SWAD, or SWADKIN | A soldier. CANT. | 1811 |
| SWODDY or SWOD-GILL | a soldier. | 1819 |
| TOW ROW | A grenadier. The tow row club; a club or society of the grenadier officers of the line. | 1811 |
| UNFORTUNATE GENTLEMEN | The horse guards, who thus named themselves in Germany, where a general officer seeing them very awkward in bundling up their forage, asked what the devil they were; to which some of them answered, unfortunate gentlemen. | 1811 |
| WABLER | Footwabler; a contemptuous term for a foot soldier, frequently used by those of the cavalry. | 1811 |
| WALKING CORNET | An ensign of foot. | 1811 |
| Occupations : Tailors |
|---|
| BOTCH | A nick name for a taylor. | 1811 |
| CUCUMBERS | Taylors. | 1737 |
| CUCUMBERS | Taylors, who are jocularly said to subsist, during the summer, chiefly on cucumbers. | 1811 |
| FLINTS | Journeymen taylors, who on a late occasion refused to work for the wages settled by law. Those who submitted, were by the mutineers styled dungs, i.e. dunghills. | 1811 |
| KNIGHT OF THE SHEERS | A taylor. | 1811 |
| KNIGHT OF THE THIMBLE, or NEEDLE | A taylor or stay-maker. | 1811 |
| LINEN ARMOURERS | Taylors. | 1811 |
| LINNEN ARMORERS | Taylors. | 1737 |
| PRICK LOUSE | a Taylor. | 1737 |
| PRICKLOUSE | A taylor. | 1811 |
| SANK, SANKY, or CENTIPEES | A taylor employed by clothiers in making soldiers clothing. | 1811 |
| SHRED | a Taylor. | 1737 |
| SHRED | A taylor. | 1811 |
| SNIP | A taylor. | 1811 |
| STAYTAPE | A taylor; from that article, and its coadjutor buckram, which make no small figure in the bills of those knights of the needle. | 1811 |
| STITCH | A nick name for a taylor: also a term for lying with a woman. | 1811 |
| TWANGEY, or STANGEY | A north country name for a taylor. | 1811 |
| WINTER CRICKET | A taylor. | 1811 |
| WOODCOCK | A taylor with a long bill. | 1811 |
| Occupations : Tradesmen and Shopkeepers |
|---|
| AMBASSADOR OF MOROCCO | A Shoemaker. (See Mrs. Clarkes Examination.) | 1811 |
| BARGEES | (CAMBRIDGE.) Barge-men on the river. | 1811 |
| BARKER | a Salesmans Servant that walks before the Shop, to invite customers. | 1737 |
| BARKER | The shopman of a bow-wow shop, or dealer in second hand clothes, particularly about Monmouth-Street, who walks before his masters door, and deafens every passenger with his cries of--Clothes, coats, or gowns--what dye want, gemmen?--what dye buy? See BOW-WOW SHOP. | 1811 |
| BUG-HUNTER | An upholsterer. | 1811 |
| BURN CRUST | A jocular name for a baker. | 1811 |
| CHICKEN BUTCHER | A poulterer. | 1811 |
| CHUNK | Among printers, a journeyman who refuses to work for legal wages; the same as the flint among taylors. See FLINT. | 1811 |
| CLICKER | A salesmans servant | 1811 |
| CRISPIN | A shoemaker: from a romance, wherein a prince of that name is said to have exercised the art and mystery of a shoemaker, thence called the gentle craft: or rather from the saints Crispinus and Crispianus, who according to the legend, were brethren born at Rome, from whence they travelled to Soissons in France, about the year 303, to propagate the Christian religion; but, because they would not be chargeable to others for their maintenance, they exercised the trade of shoemakers: the governor of the | 1811 |
| GENTLE CRAFT | The art of shoemaking. One of the gentle craft: a shoemaker: so called because once practised by St. Crispin. | 1811 |
| HOD | Brother Hod; a familiar name for a bricklayers labourer: from the hod which is used for carrying bricks and mortar. | 1811 |
| LILLY WHITE | a Chimney-Sweeper. | 1737 |
| MITE | A nick name for a cheesemonger: from the small insect of that name found in cheese. | 1811 |
| MIX METAL | A silversmith. | 1811 |
| NIT SQUEEGER, i.e | SQUEEZER. A hair-dresser. | 1811 |
| NOBTHATCHER | A peruke-maker. | 1811 |
| PUG CARPENTETER | An inferior carpenter, one employed only in small jobs. | 1811 |
| QUARREL PICKER | a Glazier. | 1737 |
| QUARREL-PICKER | A glazier: from the small squares in casements, called CARREUX, vulgarly quarrels. | 1811 |
| RIDG-CULLY | a Gold-smith. | 1737 |
| SALESMANS DOG | the same as Barker. | 1737 |
| SALESMANS DOG | A barker. Vide BARKER. | 1811 |
| SCULL THATCHER | A peruke-maker. | 1811 |
| SKINS | A tanner. | 1811 |
| SLOP SELLER | A dealer in those articles, who keeps a slop shop. | 1811 |
| SMEAR | a Painter, or Plaisterer, etc. | 1737 |
| SMEAR | A plasterer. | 1811 |
| SMOKER | a Tobacconist. | 1737 |
| SMOKER | A tobacconist. | 1811 |
| SMUG | a Blacksmith. | 1737 |
| SMUG | A nick name for a blacksmith; also neat and spruce. | 1811 |
| SNOB | A nick name for a shoemaker. | 1811 |
| SPLIT FIG | A grocer. | 1811 |
| SPLIT IRON | The nick-name for a smith. | 1811 |
| SPLIT-FIG | a Grocer. | 1737 |
| TRANSLATORS | Sellers of old Shoes and Boots, between Shoemakers and Cobblers; also that turn or translate out of one Language into another. | 1737 |
| TRANSLATORS | Sellers of old mended shoes and boots, between coblers and shoemakers. | 1811 |
| WICHER-CULLY | See Witcher-Cully. | 1737 |
| WITCHER-CULLY | a Silver-smith. | 1737 |
| Occupations : Youngsters |
|---|
| GLIM JACK | A link-boy. CANT. | 1811 |
| GLIMJACK | a Link-boy. | 1737 |
| LITTLE CLERGYMAN | A young chimney-sweeper. | 1811 |
| MINOR CLERGY | Young chimney sweepers. | 1811 |
| MOONCURSER | A link-boy: link-boys are said to curse the moon, because it renders their assistance unnecessary; these gentry frequently, under colour of lighting pass
engers over kennels, or through dark passages, assist in robbing them. Cant. | 1811 |
| NECK STAMPER | The boy who collects the pots belonging to an alehouse, sent out with beer to private houses. | 1811 |
| POWDER MONKEY | A boy on board a ship of war, whose business is to fetch powder from the magazine. | 1811 |
| RUM BOB | A young apprentice; also a sharp trick. | 1811 |
| RUM GLYMMER | King or chief of the link-boys. CANT. | 1811 |
| RUM-BOB | a young Apprentice; also a sharp, sly Trick. Likewise a pretty short Wig. | 1737 |
| RUM-GLIMMER | the King or Chief of the Linkboys. | 1737 |
| SKIP JACKS | Youngsters that ride horses on sale, horse- dealers boys. Also a plaything made for children with the breast bone of a goose. | 1811 |
| SKIP-JACKS | Yougsters that ride Horses for Sale. | 1737 |
| SQUEAKER | A bar-boy | 1811 |
