or dubs, subs. (old).—A turnkey or gaoler. [From DUB (q.v.) = key + MAN.]
1819. J. H. VAUX, A Vocabulary of the Flash Language, s.v.
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Good-Night, iii.
| For you, you coppers, narks, and DUBS, | |
| Who pinched me when upon the snam. |
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Jigger-dubber; screw.
FRENCH SYNONYMS.—Un gaffier (thieves’); un gaffe (thieves’ = boat hook); un oncle (thieves’ = uncle); un boye (thieves’: also an executioner at Cayenne or New Caledonia); le Duc de Guiche (thieves’: from guichettier = jailer); an artoupan (thieves’); un barbeaudier (thieves’); le Comte de Castue (thieves’: Castue = prison); un chat (thieves’ = a cat); le Comte de Canton (thieves’: Canton = prison or ‘stir’); le Comte de la Caruche (thieves’).
SPANISH SYNONYMS.—Banastero (= basket-maker); banquero (= banker).
1839. W. H. AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard [1889], 30.
| Quoth a DUBSMAN, who gazed on the shattered wall, | |
| ‘You have carved your epitaph, CLAUDE DU VAL, | |
| With your chisel so fine, tra la!’ |
