subs. (old).—See quot.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. A sorry poor tatter’d Fellow, whose Breech may be seen through his Pocket-holes.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. … This saying arose from the old philosophers, many of whom despised the vanity of dress to such a point, as often to fall into the excess complained of.
