1. The end man of a row of ‘negro minstrels.’
1873. Slang Dict., s.v., There are two corner men, one generally plays the bones and the other the tambourine. Corner-men are the grotesques of a minstrel company.
1884. Sat. Rev., 7 June, 740/1. At the ends are Bones and Tambo, the ‘end-men,’ who are known in England, oddly enough, as the ‘corner-men.’
2. One who lounges about street-corners, a street ‘loafer’ or ‘rough.’ Cf. corner-boy, c.-cove (CORNER sb. 16).
1885. Chamb. Jrnl., 28 Feb., 136/1. Curley Bond was well known in the district [in London] as a loafer and ‘corner-man.’
1886. Sat. Rev., 13 Feb., 219. Processions of the most peaceful character are protected against corner-men and roughs.
1890. Daily News, 10 April, 5/1. The ruffianism of Birmingham is unfortunately the ruffianism of the entire kingdom…. If Birmingham has its claqueurs, Liverpool has its corner men.
3. Comm. One who makes a CORNER (sb. 14).
1881. Daily News, 28 Sept., 4/7. A corner properly speaking may be called a secondary not a primary speculation. Some one has taken liberties with the market by speculatively selling what he has not got; and the cornerman comes in and plays Prince HAL and POINS by spoiling the spoiler.
1887. Guardian, 23 June, 925. The forestallers of the middle ages are reproduced in the corner-men of to-day.
