or dudsman, duffer, subs. (old).—A pedlar of so-called smuggled wares—gown-pieces, silk waistcoats, etc. The term and practice are both obsolete, though in a few seaports, London especially, they survived till recently in a modified form. [From DUDS (q.v.) = clothes.] Fr., un marottier (thieves’). See also WHISPERING DUDDER and BARROW-MAN.
1781. G. PARKER, A View of Society, II., 160. A DUDDER happened some time ago to meet a countryman in a dark lane, and sold him a waistcoat-piece for two guineas and a half, which stood himself in only four-and-sixpence.
