Obs. Thieves’ cant. [perh. f. cloy = CLY v.; or from CLOY v.1: but neither appears entirely to yield the sense. Cf. also CLOYNER.]
1. ‘A term in the slang of the thieves of old time, for one who intruded on the profits of young sharpers, by claiming a share’ (Nares).
1602. Rowlands, Greene’s Cony-catchers, 16. If the Cutpurse denie snappage, his cloyer or follower forthwith boyles him, that is, bewrayes him. Ibid. (1860), 22. These haue their cloyers and followers, which are very troublesome to them.
1611. Middleton & Dekker, Roaring Girl, D.’s Wks. 1873, III. 220. Then there’s a cloyer, or snap, that dogges any new brother in that trade, and snappes, will haue halfe in any booty.
2. A thief, cutpurse, shoplifter. [cf. cloy, CLY.]
1659. Catterpillars Anatomized, 3. Of the Filers or Cloyers.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. iii. § 63. Cloyers, Thieues, Purloyners.
c. 1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Cloyers, Thieves, Robbers, Rogues.
1725. in New Cant. Dict.
