subs. (thieves’).—1.  Laudanum.

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  1851–81.  H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, iii. 397. Some of the convicts would have given me some lush with a LOCUST in it.

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  2.  (American thieves’).—A truncheon.

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  1882.  J. D. MCCABE, New York by Sunlight and Gaslight, xxiii. 383. ‘Give them the LOCUSTS, men,’ came in sharp ringing tones from the Captain.

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  Verb. (thieves’).—See quot.

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  1868.  Temple Bar, xxiv. 539. LOCUSTING is putting a chap to sleep with chloroform and bellowing is putting his light out.

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