or -cap, -hawk, -hunter, -poacher, -snap, -trader, or -walker, subs. (old).—1. A thief working by night.—B. E. (c. 1696); A New Canting Dictionary (1725).
1544. ASCHAM, Toxophilus. Men that hunt so be privy stealers, or NIGHT WALKERS.
1620. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Chances, ii. 1.
| Sure, these fellows | |
| Were NIGHT-SNAPS. | |
| Ibid., The Night-Walker, or the Little Thief [Title]. |
1623. WEBSTER, The Duchess of Malfi, ii., 1. If you hear the common people curse you, be sure you are taken for one of the prime NIGHT-CAPS.
1637. MASSINGER, The Guardian, v., 2.
| Ador. You have been, | |
| Before your lady gave you entertainment, | |
| A NIGHT-WALKER in the streets. | |
| Mirt. How, my good lord! | |
| Ador. Traded in picking pockets. |
c. 1819. Old Song [FARMER, Musa Pedestris (1896), 83]. A NIGHT BIRD oft I’m in the cage.
2. (old).—A harlot. Also NIGHT-PIECE (or -SHADE): see NIGHT.—B. E. (c. 1696); A New Canting Dictionary (1725).
1612. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Coxcomb, ii., 2. Here comes a NIGHTSHADE.
1630. MASSINGER, The Picture, i., 2.
| Studied all Kinds of Females, from the NIGHT-TRADER | |
| I’the Street. |
c. 1707. D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy, iii., 99. Now Miss turn NIGHT-WALKER.
3. (common).—A bully; a street brawler. Also (in bands), NIGHT-JURY.
1664. ETHEREGE, The Comical Revenge, iv., 2. Grace. Do you take me for a NIGHT-WALKER, Sir?
1693. CONGREVE, The Old Batchelor, i., 5. The knight was alone, and had fallen into the hands of some NIGHT-WALKERS, who, I suppose, would have pillaged him.
1708. E. HATTON, New View of London [quoted in J. ASHTON’S Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne], vii., 238. Loose and disorderly Servants, NIGHT-WALKERS, Strumpets, etc.
4. (old).—A bellman; a watchman.—B. E. (c. 1696); A New Canting Dictionary (1725).
