East Anglian. Also 6 lopster, lobstart, 6, 9 lopstart, lobstert (E.D.D.). [f. LOB sb.2 + stert, START, tail. Cf. clubstart, CLUBSTER.] A stoat.

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1490[?].  Paston Lett., III. 365. Wesellis, lobsters, polkattys.

2

1552.  Huloet, Lopster vermyn.

3

1577.  Harrison, Descr. Engl., III. xiii. in Holinshed. Haryers, whose game is the Foxe,… Lobstart [1586 lopstart], Wesell, Conye, &c.

4

1787.  Marshall, Norf. (1795), II. 383.

5

a. 1825.  Forby, Voc. E. Anglia.

6

1864.  C. Elton, Norway, ix. 124. Even now it is said that farmers in England complain of the ‘lobsters’ sucking the eggs and killing the chickens.

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