subs. (vagrants’).—See quots.
1829. A Laconic Narrative of the Life and Death of James Wilson.
| That hellish monster, William Burke, | |
| Like Reynard sneaking on the LURK, | |
| Coyduck’d his prey into his den, | |
| And then the woeful work began. |
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, i. 403. Many kinds of thieving as well as begging are termed LURKING—the dead LURK, for instance, is the expressive slang phrase for the art of entering dwelling-houses during divine service. The term LURK, however, is mostly applied to the several modes of plundering by representations of sham distress.
1889. Answers, 27 July, 137, 1. Begging of all kinds is divided into LURKS, or branches.
Verb. (vagrants’).—To beg with false letters.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, i. 462. We’ll LURK on your trade.
