Obs. Also 6–8 hebberman. [f. ebber, agent-noun f. EBB v. (sense 3) + MAN.] (See quot. 1715.)
1725. Kersey, Hebberman, one that fishes below Bridge, commonly at ebbing Water, &c.
1720. Stow’s Surv. (ed. Strype, 1754), I. I. vii. 35/1. A number of fishermen belonging to the … Thames some stiled … hebbermen. Ibid., II. V. xxvii. 480/2. No … Hebberman shall … fish for smelts, between Good Friday and [etc.].
1721–90. in Bailey.
