subs. (old cant).—1. A born beggar; a tramp; primarily a vagabond who lies on straw. [From Fr. paillard].—AWDELEY (1567); COLES (1724); A New Canting Dictionary (1725); GROSE (1785); Lexicon Balatronicum (1811).
1573. HARMAN, A Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors (1814), 26. These PALLIARDS be called also Clapperdogens, these go with patched clokes, and haue their morts with them which they cal wiues.
1608. DEKKER, The Belman of London [GROSART, Wks., III. 99]. A PALLIARD carryes about him (for feare of the worst) a Certificate … where this Mort and he were marryed, when all is but forged.
1611. MIDDLETON and DEKKER, The Roaring Girle, v. 1. And couch till a PALLIARD docked my dell.
1616. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Monsieur Thomas, ii. 2. No, base PALLIARD, I do remember yet.
1687. DRYDEN, The Hind and the Panther, II. 563. Thieves, panders, PALLIARDS, sins of every sort.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. PALLIARDS, c. the Seaventh Rank of the Canting Crew, whose Fathers were Born Beggers, and who themselves follow the Same Trade, with Sham Sores, making a hideous Noise, Pretending grievous Pain, do extort Charity.
1707. J. SHIRLEY, The Triumph of Wit [FARMER, Musa Pedestris (1896), 35]. PALLIARDS all thou didst excel.
1748. T. DYCHE, A New General English Dictionary. A cant name for wretched men and women, who live by begging, thieving—anything but honest industry. The women go with one, or more small children, in a dirty, ragged condition, who cry, as though starved, the women making a doleful tale. Her male companion lies begging in fields, streets, &c., with cleymes or artificial sores, the flesh raw and shocking to the sight; the impostor pretending great pain, deceives the compassionate, charitable, and well-disposed passengers, whom, when opportunity presents, he can recover his limbs to rob, and even murder, if resisted. [Condensed].
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, III. v. Adjoining him was the PALLIARD, a loathsome tatterdemallion, his dress one heap of rags, and his discoloured skin one mass of artificial leprosy and imposthumes.
2. (old).—A lecher; a WOMANIZER (q.v.). Hence PALLIARDISE = fornication; and PALLIARDY = whoredom.
1512–3. DOUGLAS, Virgil, Prol. 96. 41.
| Eschame ye not rehers and blaw on brede | |
| Your awin defame, hawand of God na drede, | |
| Na yit of hell, prouokand vtheris to syn, | |
| Ye that list of your PALYARDRY neuer blyn. |
d. 1555. LYNDSAY, Ane Dialog Betuix Experience and ane Courteour, in Works, 76.
| That blynd gat seycht, and crukit gat thare feit; | |
| The quhilk that PALYARD no way can appreve. |
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, sig. a 6 vo. Whose Communication is Atheisme, contention, detraction, or PAILLARDISE.
1604. Digges, Foure Paradoxes, i. 4. PALLARDIZE, Murder, Treachery, and Treason are their Attendants.
1728. BAILEY, English Dictionary, s.v. PALLIARDISE, Whoredom, Fornication.
