subs. (common).—1. A spoon; among thieves a silver spoon. TO NAB A FEEDER = to steal a spoon.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1821. D. HAGGART, Life, Glossary, s.v.
2. (university).—A tutor; CRAMMER (q.v.); COACH (q.v.).—(See Dr. Blimber’s Mr. Feeder in Dombey and Son.)
1766. GOLDSMITH, The Vicar of Wakefield, chap. vii. (ed. 1827), p. 41. Mr. Thornhill came with a couple of friends, his chaplain and FEEDER.
1864. Glasgow Herald, 9 Nov. [Review of Hotten’s Slang Dictionary.] FEEDER is given here as ‘old cant’ for a spoon.
