dial. [f. JAG sb.2 or v.2 + -ER1.]
1. a. A carrier, a carter. b. A pedlar, a hawker.
1514. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm., 14. Coblers, or tynkers, or else costard iaggers.
1822. Scott, Pirate, v. A stout, vulgar little man, who had … the humble appearance of a pedlar, called ‘jagger’ in these islands. Ibid., xviii. The jagger, or travelling merchant, as he styled himself … on one pony, and his pack of goods … forming the burden of another.
1868. ‘Holme Lee,’ B. Godfrey, II. xlvii. 321. There’s the jagger’s bell—Ralph promised to buy me a comb.
1887. S. Chesh. Gloss., Jagger, a carter, esp. a man who makes his living by carting for other people, e. g. fetching their coal.
2. Mining. A man who carries ore on pack-horses from a mine to the place where it is smelted. Also, a boy who has charge of the ‘jags’ or trains of trucks in a coal-mine.
1747. Hooson, Miner’s Dict., Jaggers, this includes both the Men and Horses, that are imploy’d to carry the Ore on the Horses Backs, from the Mine to the place where it is Smelted, yet we say seperately Jagger-Lads, and Jagging-Horses.
1870. Swaledale Gloss., Jagger, a driver of pack-horses.
1900. Daily News, 9 Feb., 3/1. The trains of trucks … are called ‘jags,’ and the lads who attend to them are consequently called ‘jaggers.’
3. Comb., as jagger-galloway, jagger-horse.
1825. Brockett, Jagger-galloway, a pony with a peculiar saddle for carrying lead, etc.
1870. Swaledale Gloss., Jagger-horse, a pack-horse.
