subs. (old London cant).—See quot. 1822. Also LEGERING = the practice of cheating in the sale of coals.
1591. GREENE, A Notable Discovery of Coosnage [GROSART (1881–6), x. 51]. The law of LEGERING, which is a deceit that colliers abuse the commonwelth, in having vnlawfull sacks. Ibid. There be … in & about London, certaine caterpillers (coliers I should say) that terme themselues (among themselues) by the name of LEGERS. Ibid., 52. The LEGER, the crafty collier I meane.
1822. NARES, Glossary, s.v. LEGER. A cant term for a Londoner who formerly bought coals of the country colliers at so much a sack, and made his chief profit by using smaller sacks, making pretence he was a country collier. This was termed LEGERING.
