subs. and verb (originally slang: now recognised).—An importunate creditor; to persist in demanding payment. [A. S. dynian = to clamour, to din; possibly influenced by the memory of a certain Joe Dunn, a famous English bailiff, temp. Henry VII.] Fr., un loup (= wolf); un Anglais = an Englishman). Also DUNNER and DUNNING.
1663. KILLIGREW, The Parson’s Wedding, III., v., in Dodsley, Old Plays (1780), xi., 452. We shall have the sport, and be revenged upon the rogue for DUNNING a gentleman in a tavern.
1675. WYCHERLEY, The Country Wife, I., in wks. (1713), 136. The most insatiable sorts of DUNS, that invade our lodgings in a morning. Ibid. (1677), The Plain Dealer, Act V., Sc. ii. Man. No, no. Those you have obliged most, most certainly avoid you, when you can oblige ’em no longer; and they take your visits like so many DUNS.
1678. COTTON, Scarronides, bk. i., p. 43 (ed. 1725).
| Have what ye want, nor will I DUN ye, | |
| But pay me when you can get Money. |
1707. FARQUHAR, The Beaux Stratagem, Act III., Sc. iii. I remember the good days when we could DUN our masters for our wages, and if they refused to pay us, we could have a warrant to carry ’em before a Justice.
1712. Spectator, No. 454. Though they never buy, they are ever talking of new silks, laces, and ribbons, and serve the owners, in getting them customers as their common DUNNERS do in making them pay.
1731. Daily Journal, 9 Jan. [‘List of the officers established in the most notorious gaming-houses.’] 9th.: A DUNNER, who goes about to recover money lost at play.
1742. FIELDING, Joseph Andrews, bk. III., ch. iii. Poverty and distress, with their horrid train of DUNS, attorneys, bailiffs, haunted me day and night.
1777. SHERIDAN, A Trip to Scarborough, Act I., Sc. ii. What, hast spent all, eh? And art thou come to DUN his lordship for assistance?
1821. SCOTT, Kenilworth, ch. xv. I refused him admittance as flatly, Blount, as you would refuse a penny to a blind beggar; as obstinately, Tracy, as thou didst ever deny access to a DUN.
1838. DICKENS, Nicholas Nickleby, ch. ix., p. 66. To fetch three new boys, and DUN the relations of two old ones for the balance of a small account.
1888. C. J. DUNPHIE, The Chameleon, p. 6. DUNNING for payment which may not be convenient to them, and which would in no sense conduce to the honour of the DUNNERS.
