subs. (old).—A hedge-thief; a skulker under hedges; a pitiful rascal.
1594. NASHE, The Unfortunate Traveller, p. 32 (Chiswick Press, 1892). Call him a sneaking eavesdropper, a scraping HEDGE-CREEPER, and a piperley pickthanke.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. HEDGE-CREEPER; a pitiful rascal.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
