subs. (thieves’).—A policeman: see BEAK.
18[?]. Globe [A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant]. The prisoner, seeing a detective watching him, called out to a companion, “There’s a ROSSER!” The term is, as the magistrate opined, a new one.
1893. P. H. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, xviii. If the ROZZERS was to see him in bona clobber they’d take him for a gun. Ibid., xx. So I took on knocker up, but when I began the ROZZERS was down on me.
1898. BINSTEAD, A Pink ’Un and a Pelican, 237. What does she do? Lor’ doomy! she acksherly sticks ’er ’ead out o’ winder an’ calls up a ROZZER!
1901. The Sporting Times, 6 April, 1, 4. From calmness I don’t mean to lapse, I scorn you counterjumping chaps, Or you’re some ROZZER’S nark, perhaps.
