or cuffen, cuffing, subs. (old cant).—A man.
1567. HARMAN, A Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors, s.v.
1857. Punch, 31 Jan., p. 49, ‘Dear Bill, This Stone-jug.’
| In the day-rooms the CUFFINS [warders] we queer at our ease, | |
| And at Darkmans we run the rig just as we please. |
QUEER-CUFFIN, subs. (old).—A magistrate. [From QUEER, an old canting term for bad, + CUFFIN, a man; literally a bad man—from a rogue’s point of view. Some of the old canting terms are curious enough: e.g., ‘quyer crampringes’ = bolts or fetters; ‘quyer kyn’ = a prison house.] For synonyms, see BEAK, sense 2.
1609. DEKKER, Lanthorne and Candlelight [ed. GROSART, III., p. 203]. To the QUIER CUFFING we bing.
1837. B. DISRAELI, Venetia, p. 71. ‘The gentry cove will be romboyld by his dam,’ said a third gypsy; ‘QUEER CUFFIN [magistrate or queer man] will be the word yet, if we don’t tout.’
