subs. (old: now recognised).—A troop; a company.
1639–61. Rump, i., 228. ‘The Scotch War.’ With his gay GANG of Blue-caps all. Ibid., ii., 104, ‘The GANG; or, the Nine Worthies, etc.’
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. GANG, an ill knot or crew of thieves, pickpockets or miscreants; also a society of porters under a regulation.
1704. CIBBER, The Careless Husband, i., 1. Sir C. Who was that other? More. One of Lord Foppington’s GANG.
1754. FIELDING, Jonathan Wild, bk. i., c. 14. What then have I to do in the pursuit of greatness, but to employ a GANG, and to make the use of this GANG centre in myself? Idem. bk. iii., c. 14. But in an illegal society or GANG, as this of ours, it is otherwise.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon. GANG. Company; squad; mob.
