subs. (old, now recognised).—See quots.
1778. BAILEY, English Dictionary. GAMBLER, a guinea-dropper; one class of sharpers.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. GAMBLER, a sharper; a tricking gamester.
1816. JOHNSON, A Dictionary of the English Language (11th ed.). GAMBLER, a cant word, I suppose. A knave whose practice it is to invite the unwary to game and cheat them.
1890. Cassell’s Encyclopædic Dictionary. GAMBLER, one given to … playing for a stake.
