(With capital T.) A member of an Irish political organization instituted in 1806, which issued manifestos signed ‘Captain Thresher.’
1806. Ld. Plunket, Sp., 5 Dec., in Howell, State Trials (1822), XXX. 7. For some time past the peace of the county [Sligo] has been infested by a set of persons assuming the name of ‘Threshers.’
1803. Hist., in Ann. Reg., 1806. 263. Disturbances … occasioned by a banditti, who went about in the night time under the name of Threshers, committing every sort of crime and outrage.
1812. Chron., ibid. 31/1. The spirit of party broke out between several of the lower orders, styling themselves Threshers on the one side, and Orangemen on the other.
