ONE OF THE FAITHFUL, subs. phr. (old).—1. A drunkard. For synonyms, see ELBOW-CROOKER.
1609. The Man in the Moone. ‘This fellow is ONE OF THE FAITHFULL, as they prophanelie terme him,’ said Opinion; ‘no Heliogabalus at meat, but he will drinke many degrees beyond a Dutchman.’
2. (common).—A tailor giving long credit.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v. FAITHFUL. A tailor that gives long credit. ‘I say, Sam, what kind of crib was that you cracked?’ ‘Oh! it belonged to ONE OF THE FAITHFUL.’
