subs. (thieves’).—1. A till or ‘lob.’ DRAWING A DAMPER = robbing a till, i.e., ‘lob-sneaking.’
1857. SNOWDEN, Magistrates Assistant, 3 ed., p. 445, s.v.
2. (tailors’).—A sweater; one who takes as much as possible out of workmen for a minimum of pay.
3. (colloquial).—He or that which damps, chills, or discourages.
4. (old).—Ale or stout after spirits and water.—See COOLER.
5. (old).—A snack between meals.—See senses 6 and 7.
6. (schoolboys’).—A suet pudding served before meat. Cf., senses 4 and 5.
7. (Australian).—Unleavened bread made of flour and water and baked in thin cakes, in a frying pan or on a flat stone in wood ashes.
1885. G. A. SALA, in Daily Telegraph, 3 Sept., p. 5, col. 5. They got enough flour from Sydney to make their DAMPERS.
1886. G. SUTHERLAND, Australia, p. 77. They must at least receive a ‘pannikin’ of flour and be allowed to bake it up into a piece of DAMPER at the cooking fire.
