verbal subs. (old).—The jargon used by beggars, thieves, gipsies, and vagrants. The same as CANT, subs., sense 1, which seems to be an abbreviated and later form of CANTING; Cf. ‘cab’ from ‘cabriolet’ and ‘bus’ from ‘omnibus.’
1567. HARMAN, A Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors (1814), p. 6, Their language which they terms peddelers Frenche or CANTING.
1610. JONSON, The Alchemist, II. Supr. What a brave language here is! next to CANTING.
1688. SHADWELL, The Squire of Alsatia, I., in wks. (1720) IV., 27. A particular language which such rogues have made to themselves, called CANTING, as beggars, gipsies, thieves, and jail-birds do.
1742. CHARLES JOHNSON, Highwaymen and Pyrates, p. 57. All the CANTING language (which comprehends a parcel of invented words, such as thieves very well know, and by which they can distinguish one another from the other classes of mankind).
Ppl. adj.—Belonging to the jargon of thieves and beggars.
1592. GREENE, The Groundworke of Conny-catching, 99. The manner of their CANTING speech. [M.]
1871. London Figaro, 13 May, p. 3, col. 2. ‘Bill’s dead on for a lark with the CANTING bloke,’ whispered a lean and hungry-looking ‘casual’ to a no less half-starved neighbour.
