or harman, subs. (old).—An officer of justice. For synonyms, see BEAK and COPPER.

1

  1567.  HARMAN, A Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors (1814), p. 66. The HARMAN-BECK, the constable.

2

  1610.  ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all. With the HARMAN-BEAKE out and alas to Whittington we goe.

3

  1641.  R. BROME, A Joviall Crew, ii.

        Here safe in our Skipper let’s cly off our Peck,
And bowse in defiance o’ the HARMAN BECK.

4

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. HARMAN-BECK, a Beadle.

5

  1714.  Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 12. HARMINBECK, a Constable.

6

  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. HARMAN BECK. A beadle. Cant.

7

  1822.  SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xvii.

        From the watchmen who skip
On the HARMAN BECK’S errand.

8

  1828.  BULWER-LYTTON, The Disowned. The worst have an awe of the HARMAN’S claw.

9

  1859.  G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v. HARMAN BEAK. The Sheriff.

10