subs. (old: now recognised).—1. See quots.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. MERCURY … and a Courant or News-letter.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
1755. JOHNSON, A Dictionary of the English Language, s.v. MERCURY … it is now applied in cant phrase to the carriers of news and pamphlets.
1827. TODD, Johnson’s Dictionary, s.v. MERCURY … it had been a cant phrase more than a century before Dr. Johnson’s time; and was used generally for a messenger.
2. (old).—See quot. 1696. MERCURIAL = witty.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. MERCURY, Wit. Ibid., s.v. MERCURIAL, witty.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
3. (old).—A thief; a trickster.
1599. JONSON, Every Man out of his Humour, i. 2. I would ha’ those MERCURIES should remember they had not their fingers for nothing.
