subs. (common).—A man; fellow; cove; cuss; or chap; with a certain qualification, e.g., an ‘ugly CUSTOMER’ = a dangerous opponent; a queer CUSTOMER = a suspicious person, one to be suspected; a ‘rum CUSTOMER’ = an odd fish. For synonyms, see COVE.
1818. P. EGAN, Boxiana, I., 19. Here … many an ugly CUSTOMER has met with his match, and been frightened in his turn.
1854. WHYTE-MELVILLE, General Bounce, ch. vi. Some of these good-looking young gentlemen are ‘ugly CUSTOMERS’ enough when their blood is up.
1870. London Figaro, 8 Oct. Customers would then know the kind of ‘CUSTOMERS’ of tradesmen with whom they had to deal.
