verb (racing and common).—To cheat: spec. to run away without settling. Hence WELSHER = an absconding bookmaker, a common cheat: also WELCHER.
1868. M. R. LAING-MEASON, Turf Frauds and Turf Practices, ix. 119. The ‘WELCHER,’ properly so called, takes the money offered him to back a horse; but when he has pocketed enough coin from his dupes, he departs from the scene of his labours, and trusts to his luck, a dyed wig, or a pair of false whiskers, not to be recognized.
1869. GREENWOOD, The Seven Curses of London. Does the reader know what is a WELSHER, the creature against whose malpractices the sporting public are so emphatically warned? Probably he does not. It is still more unlikely that he ever witnessed a WELSHER hurt.
1883. Punch, 26 May, 252. 1. ‘Look ’ere, this hinnocent cove has been trying a ramp on!’ Crowd. WELSHER! kill him! WELSHER!
1887. St. James’s Gazette, 2 June. The public has always understood that the law cannot be made to touch a ‘WELSHER’; and hence it is that forcible measures are often taken to inflict private vengeance.
1887. Daily Telegraph, 12 March. He stakes his money with one of the book-makers whom he has seen at his stand for many years, with the certainty that he will receive his winnings, and run no risk of being ‘WELSHED’—which would probably be his fate on an English racecourse—if he be astute or lucky enough to spot the right horse.
1889. G. H. STUTFIELD, Modern Gambling and Gambling Laws, in Nineteenth Century, xxvi. Nov., 859. ‘WELSHING’ was decided to be an indictable offence.
