subs. (colloquial).—A person, male or female: mostly in sarcasm or contempt; as, ‘a BAD LOT,’ ‘a NICE LOT,’ etc.
1846–8. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, I. vii. ‘You’ll get no good out of ’er,’ continued John, pointing with his thumb towards Miss Sharp: ‘a BAD LOT, I tell you, a BAD LOT.’
1878. PAYN, By Proxy, ix. ‘So that’s your young friend, is it!’ said he, rattling the loose silver in his capacious pocket with one hand, and laying the other lightly upon Nelly’s head. ‘She’s a very NICE little LOT.’
1888. Pall Mall Gazette, 20 Nov., p. 2, col. 2. He is a thorough BAD LOT.
1889. C. HADDON CHAMBERS, ‘Ne’er-do-well,’ in Australian Wilds. ‘I’m afraid he’s a very BAD LOT,’ I said. ‘I wonder that you have kept him on so long.’
