arch. Also 7–8 tra-. [f. TREPAN v.2 + -ER1.] One who trepans; an entrapper, decoy, swindler.
1658–9. in Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 157. There came several trepanners from Whiteball, it pleased God to keep us upright.
1698. A. Sidney, Disc. conc. Gov’t., ii. § 12. 114. The highest Dignities were bestowed upon the Delatores, who were a kind of Rogues like to our Irish Witnesses, or those that by a new coin’d word we call Trepanners.
a. 1709. Atkyns, Parl. & Pol. Tracts (1734), 339. This Trapanning proves … that the Trapanner did bear a Spight and Malice against the Person trapanned.
1753. Caledonian Mercury, 3 Sept., 2/1.
| Then let the Christian Slaves beware | |
| They treat us as Trepanners: | |
| When, with their Money, we shall share | |
| Their Politicks and Manners! |
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxxiv. The turmoils which the political trepanner … is … putting into motion.
1839. The Charter, 7 April, 10/3. Trepanners readily kidnap such children, take them to brothels, or low public-houses, where they are initiated in the art of thieving and debauchery.
