subs. (thieves’).—1.  A pickpocket; also DIPPER and DIPPING-BLOKE. For synonyms, see STOOK-HAULER.

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  1859.  G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, p. 26, s.v.

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  c. 1866.  VANCE, The Chickaleary Cove.

        Off to Paris I shall go, to show a thing or two
  To the DIPPING-BLOKES wot hangs about the cafés.

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  1888.  St. Louis Globe Democrat. A DIP touched the Canadian sheriff for his watch and massive chain while he was reading the Riot Act.

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  2.  (American).—A stolen kiss, especially one in the dark.

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  3.  (Westminster School).—A pocket inkstand.

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  4.  (colloquial).—A candle made by dipping the wick in tallow.

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  1837.  R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends (The Ingoldsby Penance).

        None of your rascally ‘DIPS,’ but sound,
Best superfine wax-wicks, four to the pound.

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  Verb (thieves’).—1.  To pick pockets. TO DIP A LOB = to rob a till. Also TO GO ON THE DIPE = to go pocket-picking. For synonyms, see FRISK.

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  1817.  Sporting Magazine. Defence of Groves at Bristol Assizes. I have DIPPED into 150 … pockets and not found a shilling.

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  2.  (old).—To pawn; mortgage.

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  1693.  DRYDEN, Persius, vi., 160.

        Put out the principal in trusty hands:
Live of the use; and never DIP thy lands.

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  1711.  Spectator, No. 114. What gives the unhappy man this peevishness of spirit is, that his estate is DIPPED, and is eating out with usury; and yet he has not the heart to sell any part of it.

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  1860.  THACKERAY, The Adventures of Philip, ch. xiv. You have but one son, and he has a fortune of his own, as I happen to know. You haven’t DIPPED it, Master Philip?

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  3.  (thieves’).—To be convicted; to get into trouble.

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  TO DIP ONE’S BEAK, verb. phr. (common).—To drink. For synonyms, see LUSH.

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