or land-rat, subs. (old).—1. See quot. 1696. For synonyms, see ROAD-AGENT.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, Merchant of Venice, i. 3. There be LAND-RATS and water-rats, land thieves and water thieves.
1609. DEKKER, The Guls Horne-booke [GROSART (1885), ii. 233]. The Dukes tomb is a sanctuary, and will keep you alive from LAND-RATS. Ibid., iii. 262. These LAND-PYRATES lodge in … the out-barnes of farmers.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. LAND-PIRATES, Highway-men or any other robbers. [Also A New Canting Dictionary (1725) and GROSE (1785).]
2. (nautical).—See LAND-SHARK.
