1. One who walks in the street.
1618. Mynshul, Ess. Prison, 29. The Maister of a Prison is the primum mobile, in that euerlasting motion (a Iayle) and those key-turners, and street-walkers, are the petty and necessary slauish wheeles.
1673. [R. Leigh], Transp. Reh., 33. To follow our Street-walker with a full Cry of Boys and Women at his heels.
1737. Swift, Proposal Badges Beggars, Wks. 1738, VI. 161. But all Street-walkers, and Shop-keepers, bear an equal Share in this hourly Vexation.
1872. W. Reade, Martyrdom of Man, 497. Athens, where the milestones are masterpieces, and the street-walkers poets and philosophers.
2. spec. A common prostitute whose field of operations is the street.
1592. Greene, Discov. Coosenage, C 3 b. They shold see how these street walkers wil iet in rich garded gowns.
1721. Amherst, Terræ Filius, No. 28. 150. Common strumpets, and mercenary street-walkers.
1762. Johnson, Lett., 21 Dec., in Boswell. Mr. Levet has married a street-walker.
1828. Landor, Imag. Conv., Richelieu, Cotes, etc., Wks. 1846, I. 301. Lady Fosset … had been a street-walker, a kept mistress, and an actress.
a. 1870. Buchanan, Poems, Pan, Epil. 31. On rainy nights thy breath blows chill In the street-walker’s dripping hair.
1894. Stead, If Christ Came to Chicago, 368. Where arbitrary power of arrest is given … the street-walker proves a great revenue to the policeman.
Similarly Street-walking vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1752. Fielding, Amelia, I. ii. The Justice … declaring she was guilty within the statute of Street-walking, ordered her to Bridewell for a month.
1767. Wilkes, Corr. (1805), III. 144. I spoke of street-walking publishers, whom it would be ridiculous in government to take up.
c. 1770. in Satir. Songs Costume (Percy Soc.), 248. For so much as the street-walking hussies They will have their hair drest you see.
1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, ch. xiv. Jess Cantrips … had the honour to be transported to the plantations, for street-walking and pocket-picking.
