a. and sb. Obs. [f. L. suburbium SUBURB + -AN.] A. adj. Suburban; in 17th cent. often with reference to the licentious life of the (London) suburbs (cf. SUBURB 4 b).
1606. Holland, Sueton., 39. There is yet to be seene the place of his nourcery, within a suburbian house belonging to his Auncesters.
1609. Rowley, Search for Money (Percy Soc.), 37. We should returne back to the suburbian bordello (before mentioned).
1632. Massinger, City Madam, III. i. I know them—swaggering, suburbian roarers.
1653. Consid. Dissolv. Crt. Chancery, 47. Some of the Middlesex or Suburbian Justices.
1675. T. Duffett, Mock Tempest, III. i. Not pledge me, thou salt Suburbian Hackney, not pledge me.
1732. Lond. Mag., I. 334. Give some share of credit to the out-lying night-walkers, and Suburbian ghosts.
1810. Crabbe, Borough, xviii. 244. Suburbian prospects, where the traveller stops To see the sloping tenement on props.
B. sb. A resident in the suburbs.
1607. Dekker, Knt.’s Conjur. (1842), 55. All the brokers in Long Lane Houns-ditch, or else wher, with all the rest of their colleagued suburbians that deale vppon ouerworne commodities.
1679. Dryden, Limberham, IV. i. Down with the Suburbians, down with them.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Lett. fr. Dead, Wks. 1720, II. 248. A true profligate Suburbian.
1760. Foote, Minor, I. Wks. 1799, I. 232. You cockneys now beat us suburbians at our own weapons.
1825. C. M. Westmacott, Engl. Spy, I. 287. Scum of the suburbians.
