subs. (old: now recognised).—Plunder; spoils; SWAG (q.v.). TO PLAY (CRY or BOWL) BOOTY = to play falsely, dishonestly, or unfairly, with the object of not winning, a previous arrangement having been made with a confederate to share the spoils: also BOOTY = playing BOOTY, and BOOTY-FELLOW, a sharer in the plunder.
1575. AWDELEY, The Fraternitye of Vacabondes, 13. They wil make as much as they can, and consent as though they wil PLAY BOOTY againt him.
1608. DEKKER, The Belman of London, in Wks. (Grosart) III., 133. They … haue still an eare how the layes [bets] are made, and according to that leuell doe they throw their bowles, so that be sure the bowlers PLAY BOOTY.
1614. OVERBURY, Characters, ‘A Chamber-maide.’ She divides it so equally betweene the master and the serving-man, as if she had cut out the getting of it by a thred: only the knave sumner makes her BOWLE BOOTY, and over-reach the master.
1631. CARTWRIGHT, The Royall Slave, Prologue.
| No envy then or faction fear we, where | |
| All like yourselves is innocent and clear; | |
| The stage being private then, as none must sit, | |
| And, like a trap, lay wait for sixpence wit; | |
| So none must CRY UP BOOTY, or cry down; | |
| Such mercenary guise fits not the gown. |
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. BOOTY-PLAY, False, Cheating, also Plunder, HE BOWLS BOOTY, when great Odds are laid, and he goes Halves, his Cast is designed by Bad.
1742. FIELDING, Joseph Andrews, I., ii. The best gamesters, before they laid their money, always inquired which horse little Joey was to ride; and the bets were rather proportioned by the rider than by the horse himself; especially after he had scornfully refused a considerable bribe to PLAY BOOTY on such an occasion.
1748. T. DYCHE, A New General English Dictionary (5 ed.). BOOTY (s.), plunder, spoil, prize; also a cant word signifying a pretence to one thing, and at the same time an intention to do the contrary, in order to cheat, impose upon, and draw in a person to lay wagers, play at some game, etc.
1776. COLMAN, The Spleen, in Wks. (1777) IV., 276. Rubrick. … Jubilee started and stumbled—but by the bye, I believe his rider PLAYED BOOTY—Duenna won the stakes, and the knowing ones were all taken in.
1817. SCOTT, Rob Roy, vii. ‘Were he caught PLAYING BOOTY, he would be disarmed, and probably dismounted.’
1831. B. DISRAELI, The Young Duke. One thing alone remained to be lost—what he called his honour, which was already on the scent to PLAY BOOTY.
1822. NARES, Glossary, s.v. BOOTY. TO PLAY, or BOWL, or CRY BOOTY, appears to have meant to give people an advantage at first in order to draw them on to their loss.
1847. HALLIWELL, A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words, etc., s.v. BOOTY. TO PLAY BOOTY, to allow one’s adversary to win at first in order to induce him to continue playing afterwards.
