subs. phr. (old).—A rogue, gallows-bird: i.e., one likely or deserving to wag in a halter; cf. CRACK-ROPE, HALTER-SACK, etc.
1594. J. LYLY, Mother Bombie, ii. 5. I’le teach my WAG-HALTER to know grapes from barley.
1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Babouin. A craftie knave, a crack-rope, WAG-HALTER, unhappie rogue.
1611. R. TARLTON, Jests. A WAG-HALTER boy met Tarlton in the street, and said, Master Tarlton who lives longest?
1613. MARSTON, The Insatiate Countesse, i. I can tell you I am a mad WAG-HALTER.
1629. The Schoole of Good Manners. To mocke anybody by blabboring out the tongue is the part of WAGHALTERS and lewd boyes, not of well mannered children.
1638. FORD, The Fancies Chaste and Noble, ii. 2. Spa. Not so terrible as a cross-tree that never grows, to a WAG-HALTER page.
