A new dictionary of the canting crew in its several tribes of gypsies, beggers [sic], thieves, cheats &c., with an addition of some proverbs, phrases, figurative speeches &c. : useful for all sorts of people (especially foreigners) to secure their money and preserve their lives ; besides very diverting and entertaining being wholly new / by B.E.

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Title
A new dictionary of the canting crew in its several tribes of gypsies, beggers [sic], thieves, cheats &c., with an addition of some proverbs, phrases, figurative speeches &c. : useful for all sorts of people (especially foreigners) to secure their money and preserve their lives ; besides very diverting and entertaining being wholly new / by B.E.
Author
B. E.
Publication
London :: Printed for W. Hawes ..., P. Gilbourne ..., and W. Davis ...,
[1699]
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Subject terms
Cant -- Dictionaries.
English language -- Dialects.
English language -- Slang.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A39127.0001.001
Cite this Item
"A new dictionary of the canting crew in its several tribes of gypsies, beggers [sic], thieves, cheats &c., with an addition of some proverbs, phrases, figurative speeches &c. : useful for all sorts of people (especially foreigners) to secure their money and preserve their lives ; besides very diverting and entertaining being wholly new / by B.E." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A39127.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 30, 2025.

Pages

L (Book L)

Labourinvain, lost Labour, such as washing of Blackamoors, shearing of Hoggs, hedging in the Cuckoe, &c.

  • ...Lac'd
    • Coffee, Sugar'd.
    • Mutton, a Woman.

Lacing, Beating, Drub∣bing, I'll Lace your Coat Sirtah, I will Beat you soundly.

Ladder, see Badger, first Part.

Lady, a very crooked, deformed and ill shapen Woman.

Lady-birds, Light or Lewd Women; also a little Red Insect, varie∣gated with black Spots.

Lag, c. Water; also Last.

Lag-a dudds, c. a Buck of Cloths. As we cloy the Lag of Dudds, c. come let us Steal that Buck of Cloths. To Lagg behind, or come after with Salt and Spoons. Lagg of the Flock, the Hindmost.

Lambaste, to Beat soundly.

Lamb-pye, Beating or Drubbing.

Lamb-skin-men, c. the Judges of the several Courts.

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Lambs-wool, roasted Apples and Ale.

Lame Excuse, a sorry Shift or Evasion.

Land-lopers or Land∣lubbers, Fresh-water Sea∣men so called by the true Tarrs; also Vaga∣bonds that Beg and Steal about the Country.

Land-pirates, c. High∣waymen or any other Robbers.

Land-lord and Land∣lady, Host and Hostess; also Possessors of Land or Houses, and Letters out of either to farm or for Lodgings. How lies the Land? How stands the Reckoning? Who has any Lands in Appleby? a Question askt the Man at whose Door the Glass stands Long.

Lank, Gaunt, Thin, Hollow, Lean, Mea∣ger, Slender, Weak. Lank Ears of Corn, very thin Ears.

Lanspresado, c. he that comes into Company with but Two pence in his Pocket.

Lantern-jaw'd, a very lean, thin faced Fel∣low. A Dark-Lanthorn, the Servant or Agent that Receives the Bribe (at Court.)

Lap, c. Pottage, But∣ter-milk, or Whey. 'Tis rum Lap, c. this is excellent Soupe.

Larbord, on the left side or Hand.

Lare-over, said when the true Name of the thing must (in decency) be concealed.

Largess, a Pittance properly given to Reap∣ers and Harvest Folks, now used for any petty Donative, or small Gratuity.

Latitudinarian, a Church∣man at large, one that is no Slave to Rubrick, Canons, Liturgy, or Oath of Canonical O∣bedience, and in fine looks towards Lambeth, and rowes to Geneva.

Layd-up-in Lavender, when any Cloaths or other Moveables are pawn'd or dipt for pre∣sent

Page [unnumbered]

Money; also Rodds in Pickle, of Revenge in reserve, till an oppor∣tunity offers to show it.

Lawn, a naked Space in the middle of a Park or Forrest, left Until∣led, and without Wood, contrary to a Hay, which see in it's proper Place; also very thin Linnen, formerly much Worn.

Layr, the Impression where any Deer hath Harboured or reposed.

Leachers, Lascivious or Lustful Men.

L E

Leader Pate, a dull, heavy, stupid Fellow.

Leaders, the first Play∣ers, Generals of Armies, and Men of most sway in great Councils or Assemblies; also the Fore-horses in Coaches and Teams. Who Leads? Who begins or Plays first.

Leash, Three; also the String where with a Grey-hound is Led.

Leather-head, a Thick∣skull'd, Heavy-headed Fellow.

Leather-mouth'd Fish, Carp, Roach, &c. hav∣ing their Teeth in their Throats.

Leathern Convenience, (by the Quakers) a Coach.

Leaves, of a Tree, of a Book, of Doors, or Window-shutters, and of folding Tables; I must turn over a new Leaf with you, or take another Course with you

Legerdemain, Jugglers Tricks; also Sharping.

Lesses, Boars Excre∣ments.

Let's take an Ark and Winns, c. let us hire a Skuller.

Let's buy a Brush, or Let's Lope, c. let us scour off, and make what shift we can to secure our selves from being apprehended. Let him Laugh that Wins: Let the World say what

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they will, if I find all well at Home. Let every Man meddle with his own.

Leveret, the first Year, see Hare.

Levite, a Priest or Parson; also those of the Tribe of Levi, whose Inheritance the Priest∣hood▪ (craft and all) was.

Levy, the Prince's, or any great Man's time of Rising.

Leystall, a Dunghil.

L I

Lib, c. to Tumble or Lye together.

Libben, c. a private dwelling House.

Libbege, c. a Bed.

Libkin, c. a House to Lye in; also a Lodging.

Libertines, Pleasant and profuse Livers, that Live-apace, but wildly, without Order, Rule, or Discipline, lighting the Candle (of Life) at both Ends. A short Life and a Merry one. Life is sweet. Life is half Spent, before we know what it is.

Lickt, Pictures new Varnished, Houses new Whitened, or Women's Faces with a Wash.

Lifter, c▪ a Crutch.

Light Finger'd, Thievish▪

Light-mans, c. the Day or Day-break.

Light Friggat, a Whore; also a Cruiser.

Light Woman, or Light Huswife, Lewd, Who∣rish.

Light-timber'd Fellow, limber or slender Lim∣b'd; also weak.

Lilly-white, c. a Chim∣ney-sweeper.

Linnen-armorers, c. Tailers.

Line of the old Author, a Dram of Brandy.

Litter, any thing clat∣ter'd up, out of Place or Order, What a litter here is? What a toss and tumble? Also a Litter of Cubbs, young Foxes; of Whelps, Puppies, young Doggs.

Little Barbary, Wap∣ping▪

Little Fellow or Action,

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Contemptible, Base, Sneaking, Ungentle∣man-like.

L O

Loblolly, any ill-cookt Mess.

Lob-cock, a heavy, dull Fellow. In Lob's Pound, Laid by the Heels, or clap'd up in Jail.

Lobster, a Red Coat Soldier.

Lock all fast, c. one that Buys and Conceals Stolen Goods. The Lock, c. the Magazine or Ware-house whither, the Thieves carry Stolen Goods to be secur'd; also an Hospital for Pockey Folks in Kent∣street.

Lockram-jaw'd, Thin, Lean, Sharp-visag'd.

Loge, c. a Watch. I suppose from the French Horloge, a Clock or Watch. Filed a Cly of a Loge, or Scout, c. Pickt a Pocket of a Watch. Biting a Loge, or Scout, c. the same.

Loggerhead, a heavy, dull Fellow. To go to Loggerheads, to go to Fisticuffs.

Lolpoop, a Lazy, Idle Drone. To Loll, to Lean on the Elbows; also to put out the Tongue in derision.

Long-headed, Wise, of great reach and fore∣sight.

Long-meg, a very tall Woman.

Long-shanks, Long-leg∣ged.

Long-winded Pay-master, one that very slowly, heavily, or late Paies.

Looby, a lazy dull Fel∣low.

Looking-glass, a Cham∣ber-pot.

Loon-slatt, c. a Thir∣teen Pence half Penny. A Loon, see Lout. A False Loon, a true Scotch Man, or Knave of any Nation.

Lord, a very coorked deformed, or ill-shapen Person.

Lore, Learning or Skill in any Thing.

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Louse-land, Scotland. A Scoth Louse-trap, a Comb.

Lout, an heavy, idle Fellow. To Lout, to Low like a Cow, or Bellow like a Bull.

Loure, c. Money.

Low Tide, when there's no Money in a Man's Pocket.

Low-pad, c. a Foot-Pad.

L U

Lubber. Lubberly, a heavy, dull Fellow.

Lud's-bulwark, c. Lud∣gate Prison.

Luggage, Lumber.

Luggs, Ears: Hence to Lug by the Ears. Ye can he make a Silk-Purse of a Sowe's Luggs, a Scotch Proverb. To Lug out, to draw a Sword.

Lullaby-cheat, c. a Child.

Lumber, Rubbish, Trash, Trumpery.

Lumpish, heavy dull, drowsy.

Lurched, Beaten at any Game. Left in the Lurch, Pawn'd for the Reckoning, or left at Stake to Smart for any Plot.

Lure, c. an idle Pam∣phlet; also a Bait. Throw out a Lure, to lay Bait.

Lurries, c. Money, Watches, Rings, or o∣ther Moveables.

L Y

Lyome, the String wherewith a Hound is Led.

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