[Sense 1 is app. the original, and has been variously referred to CLICK v.1 and 2]
1. slang. A shop-keeper’s tout. (Originally a shoemaker’s: cf. next sense.)
c. 1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Clicker, the Shoe-maker’s Journeyman or Servant, that cuts out all the work, and stands at or walks before the door, and saies ‘What d’ ye lack, sir? What d’ ye buy, madam?’
1719. D’Urfey, Pills, V. 242. Let Clickers bark on the whole Day.
1721–1800. Bailey, Clicker, a Shoemaker or Salesman who at a Shop invites Customers.
1755–78. Johnson, Clicker, a low word for the servant of a salesman who stands at the door to invite customers.
1873. Slang Dict., Clicker, a female touter at a bonnet shop.
2. A foreman shoemaker who cuts out the leather for boots and shoes, and gives it out to the workmen.
1690. [see sense 1].
1808. Ann. Reg., Chron., 122. A young man … who was what is termed a clicker, or foreman to a boot and shoemaker.
1837. Whittock, Bk. Trades (1842), 403. One man … does nought but cut and give out work—he is the ‘cliquer.’
3. Printing. The foreman of a companionship of compositors who distributes the ‘copy’ among the others, and attends to the paging, placing of head-lines, and the like; he also keeps an account of what each sets up, and makes up the bill. (App. introduced between 1770 and 1808.)
1808. Stower, Printer’s Gram., 466. The clicker (the person so appointed) applies to the overseer for the copy.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 640. The MS. … is then handed to a clicker or foreman of a companionship, or certain number of compositors.
1885. Scotsman, 26 Aug., 3/6. Compositor—First-class clicker, smart at upmaking.
Hence Clickership (sense 3).
1882. Standard, 1 Dec., 8/4. Overseership or Clickership required by good practical Printer.
