subs. (old).—1. quots.; also (modern) a police spy: see NARK (GROSE).
1591. GREENE, A Notable Discovery of Coosnage [Works, x. 15]. The nature of the SETTER, is to draw any person familiarly to drinke with him, which person they call the Conie.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 1 Henry IV., ii. 2, 53. ’Tis our SETTER: I know his voice.
1607. DEKKER, Jests to Make You Merie [Wks. (GROSART), II. 310]. Your theeues trauelling mort is partly a SETTER of robberies, partly a theefe herselfe.
1680. COTTON, The Compleat Gamester, 5. Shoals of huffs, hectors, SETTERS, jilts, pads, biters, etc.,… may all pass under the general appellation of rooks.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. SETTERS, or Setting-dogs, they that draw in Bubbles, for old Gamesters to Rook; also a Sergeant’s Yeoman, or Bailiff’s Follower, or Second, and an Excize-Officer to prevent the Brewers defrauding the King.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 7. There are also SETTERS of both Sexes, that make it their Business to go about upon Information, to pry into the Disposition and Avenues of Houses, and bring notice of the Booty.
d. 1745. SWIFT, The Last Speech of Ebenezer Elliston. We have SETTERS watching in corners, and by dead walls.
1754. MARTIN, English Dictionary, 2nd ed., s.v. SETTER … (3) an associate of sharpers to get them bubbles.
1867. MARK LEMON, Leyton Hall, ix. The man that stood beside thee is old Crookfinger, the most notorious SETTER, barnacle, and foist in the City.
2. (auctioneers’).—A runner-up of prices; a BONNET (q.v.).
CLOCK-SETTER, subs. phr. (nautical).—1. One who tampers with the clock to shorten his watch; also (2) a busy-body, a SEA-LAWYER (q.v.).—Century.
