subs. (old).—A writer of ballads and street literature for the use of CHAUNTERS or ‘street patterers.’ They haunted certain well-known public-houses in London and Birmingham, and were open to write ballads ‘to order’ on any subject, the rate of remuneration varying from half-a-crown to seven-and-sixpence. The chaunter having practically disappeared, his poet has gone with him.
1781. G. PARKER, A View of Society, II., 58. [Named and described in.]
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. CHAUNTER CULLS, Grub-street writers, who compose songs, carrols, &c. for ballad singers.
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, bk. IV., ch. vi. I trust, whenever the CHANTER-CULLS and last-speech scribblers get hold of me, they’ll at least put no cursed nonsense into my mouth.
