subs. (common).—Explained in quot.
1857. DICKENS, Down with the Tide, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 269. Besides these, there were the DREDGERMEN, who, under pretence of dredging up coals and such-like from the bottom of the river, hung about barges and other undecked craft, and when they saw an opportunity, threw any property they could lay their hands on overboard, in order slyly to dredge it up when the vessel was gone. Sometimes, they dexterously used their dredges to whip away anything that might lie within reach. Some of them were mighty neat at this, and the accomplishment was called dry dredging.
