subs. (common).—1. A trickster. Cf., The ‘Artful Dodger’ (DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch. viii.). Fr., être ficelle = ‘to be a dodger.’
1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie. Caqueraffe, a base micher, scurvie hagler, lowsie DODGER, etc.
1824. SCOTT, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. xxviii. A sly cock, this Frank Tyrrel, thought the traveller; a very complete DODGER—but no matter—I shall wind him, were he to double like a fan.
1887. BAUMANN, Londinismen, Slang und Cant, ‘A Slang Ditty,’ p. vi.
| So from hartful young DODGERS, | |
| From vaxy old codgers, | |
| From the blowens ve got | |
| Soon to know vot is vot. |
2. (popular).—A dram; provincially, a NIGHTCAP. For synonyms, see GO.
3. (American).—A hard-baked cake or biscuit, more usually termed CORN-DODGER. When mixed with beef, BEEF-DODGERS.
4. (American).—A handbill.
1888. Texas Siftings, 15 Sept. Then I would have a great quantity of little DODGERS printed to throw around everywhere.
