subs. (old: now recognised).—Sleight of hand.

1

  d. 1535.  MORE, Works, p. 813. Perceive theyr LEYGIER DEMAINE, wyth which they would ingle forth thir falshood and shift the trouth asyde.

2

  1592.  NASHE, Pierce Penilesse, His Supplication to the Divell [GROSART (1883–4), ii. 108]. Making their eyes and eares vassailes to the LEGERDEMAINE of these ingling Mountebanks.

3

  1596.  SPENSER, The Fairie Queene, v. ix. 13.

        For he in slights and jugling feates did flow,
And of LEGIERDEMAYNE the mysteries did know.

4

  1653.  WALTON, The Compleat Angler, p. 112. All the money that had been got that week … by fortune telling or LEGERDEMAIN.

5

  1684.  R. HEAD, Proteus Redivivus, 238. What trick they play, what LEIDGER-DE-MAIN they use.

6

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v.

7

  1725.  A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.

8