a. 1846. M. H. Barker, Nights at Sea (1858), 35. There used to be a lot of outrageous tarnation swankers meet there for a night’s spree.
1890. Barrère & Leland, Slang Dict., Swanker (public and military schools), one who works hard.
1909. Westm. Gaz., 31 Aug., 8/3. When Smith cried out that he was stabbed, she replied, ‘Go on, you are a good old swanker.’ She thought he was joking until she saw he was bleeding.
