verb (old).—To cheat; deceive; trick; or ‘BITE’ (q.v.). [Literally ‘to catch conies.’] Dekker, in his English Villainies, describes the system which is obviously the equivalent of the modern CONFIDENCE TRICK (q.v.). A society of sharpers of this type was called ‘a warren,’ and their dupes ‘rabbit-suckers’ (that is, baby rabbits), or conies. At other times the gang were ‘bird-catchers,’ and their quarry was ‘a gull,’ etc. For synonyms, see STICK.
1593. SHAKESPEARE, Taming of the Shrew, v. 1. Take heed, signor Baptista, lest you be CONNY-CATCHED in this business.
1596. NASHE, Have with You to Saffron-Walden, in wks. III., 158. Hereby hee thought to CONNY-CATCH the simple world.
1604. DEKKER, The Honest Whore, in wks. (1873) II., 12. Why, sister, do you thinke Ile CONNY-CATCH you, when you are my cozen?
