subs. (common).—A fiddler. Also CATGUT SCRAPER, and TORMENTOR OF CATGUT. For synonyms, see ROSIN-THE-BOW.

1

  1719.  D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy, ii., 218. ‘A Song,’ etc. Strike up drowsie GUT-SCRAPERS.

2

  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

3

  1785.  BURNS, The Jolly Beggars.

        Her charms had struck a sturdy caird,
  As weel’s a poor GUT-SCRAPER.

4

  1834.  W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, p. 192 (ed. 1864). Make ready there, you GUT-SCRAPERS, you shawm-shavers; I’ll put your lungs in play for you presently. In the mean time—charge, pals, charge—a toast, a toast!

5

  1833.  MARRYAT, Peter Simple, II. xii. ‘You may save yourself the trouble, you dingy GUT-SCRAPER,’ replied O’Brien [addressing a fiddler].

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