Racing. Also † welch. [Of obscure origin.] trans. To swindle (a person) out of money laid as a bet (see WELSHER1). Hence WELSHING vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1857. Morn. Chron., 8 June, 8/3. He got his living by ‘welching’ and taking in the ‘flats.’
1867. Sporting Life, 21 Sept. Money which people have been ‘welshed’ out of.
1868. Morn. Star, 26 March. Some two or three of the prolific ‘welshing’ fraternity did manage to carry on their nefarious operations.
1887. Daily Tel., 12 March, 5/2. He will receive his winnings and run no risk of being ‘welshed.’
1894. Henty, Dorothy’s Double, I. 57. He … had a narrow escape of being lynched by the crowd for welshing.
1902. Times, 8 March, 14/3. The introduction of the system [pari-mutuel] in France had increased the volume of betting there, because people were not now afraid of being welshed.
