Also 8 (erron.) jerguer, 9 jerker. [See prec. vb.] ‘A custom-house officer, a searcher’ (Simmonds, 1858); in the London Custom House, A clerical officer who examines and checks a ship’s papers, to see that all the cargo has been duly entered and described.
1706. Phillips, Jerguer, an Officer at the Custom-House, who oversees the Actions and Accounts of the Waiters.
1707. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., III. 498. Four Examiners of the Out-Port Books 200l. Three Jerquers at 100l. each, 300l.
1812. J. Smyth, Pract. of Customs (1821), 7. The Warrants, Books, &c. are to be delivered to the Jerquer (or Surveyor, in those Ports where there is not a Jerquer), within one month after the clearing of the Ship by the Tide-surveyor.
1862. Sala, Ship-Chandler, i. 20 (L.). I’ve heard tell that she’s three parts slaver and one part pirate; and I wonder the Custom-house jerkers don’t seize her whenever that gibbet-face Stoneyard has the impudence to put into Longport.
