or ambodexter, subs. (old legal).—See quots. Hence (2) a double-dealer; a VICAR OF BRAY (q.v.). Also as adj. = deceitful, tricky.
1532. Use of Dice Play (1850), 17. Any affinity with our men of law? Never with these that be honest. Marry! with such as be AMBIDEXTERS, and used to play in both the hands.
1555. RIDLEY, Works, 27. They may be called neutrals, AMBIDEXTERS, or rather such as can shift on both sides.
1589. Golden Mirrour [NARES].
| An other sorte began to hyde their head, | |
| And many other did AMBODEXTER play. |
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Destréggiare.
1599. PEELE, Sir Clyomon and Sir Clamydes [Works, iii. 44]. Such shifting knaves as I am the AMBODEXTER must play.
1607. COWELL, Law Dictionary, s.v. AMBIDEXTER … that juror that taketh of both parties for the giving of his verdict.
1613. FINCH, Law (1636), 186. To call … an Attornie AMBODEXTER, or to say that he dealeth corruptly.
1624. E. S., Anthropophagus: the Man-Eater [Shakespeare’s Centurie of Prayse, 154]. These AMBI-DEXTER Gibionites.
1652. BEULOWE, Theophila, XIII. xviii. 238.
| From costly bills of greedy Emp’ricks free | |
| From plea of AMBODEXTERS fee. |
1691. BLOUNT, Law Dictionary. AMBIDEXTER … That Juror or Embraceor who takes Money on both sides, for giving his Verdict.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. AMBIDEXTER, one that goes snacks in gaming with both Parties; also a Lawyer that takes Fees of Plaintif and Defendant at once.
1703. DEFOE, Reformation of Manners, 93.
| Those AMBO-DEXTERS in Religion, who | |
| Can any thing dispute, yet any thing can do. |
1705. HICKERINGILL, Priest-Craft, Its Character and Consequences, I. (1721), 44.
| Nor AMBODEXTER Lawyers take a Fee | |
| On both sides. |
1841. DISRAELI, Amenities of Literature (1859), I. 362. Spun out of his own crafty AMBIDEXTERITY.
1856. DOVE, Logic, Chr. Faith, I. ii. Tortuous and AMBIDEXTER sophistries.
1864. PALGRAVE, The History of Normandy and of England, III. 278. An AMBIDEXTER, owing fealty to both Counts and not faithful to either.
