Usually, to be actively employed. But see 1840.
1840. I cleared about two dollars a day: but I should have made more by standing round; i. e., watching the land-market for bargains.—Knick. Mag., xvi. 205 (Sept.). (Italics in the original.)
1853. The old woman has gut some fire an’ tow abaout her. She makes Armbus stand raound pooty well, too.—‘Turnover: a Tale of New Hampshire,’ p. 56 (Boston).
