or crack-rope, subs. (old).—A vagabond; an old equivalent of JAIL-BIRD. Cf., HEMP-SEED.

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  1566.  GASCOIGNE, Supposes, i., 4 [HAZLITT (1869), Poems, i. 211]. Du. You CRACKE-HALTER, if I catche you by the eares, I shall make you answere me directly.

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  1607.  DEKKER, Northward Hoe, IV., i. Featherstone’s boy, like an honest CRACK-HALTER, laid open all to one of my prentices.

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  1639.  MASSINGER, The Unnatural Combat, II., ii. Peace, you CRACK-ROPE!

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  1818.  SCOTT, The Heart of Mid-lothian, ch. xxx. ‘Hark ye, ye CRACK-ROPE padder, born-beggar, and hedge-thief,’ replied the hag.

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