subs. (old).—1. A riverside labourer; (2) a riverside thief, and (3) a contractor in a small way for labour and materials for unloading and loading ships. See quots.
1781. G. PARKER, A View of Society, II. 78. They then commence LUMPERS, which is skulking about ships, lighters, etc. hanging about quays, wharfs, etc. stealing old iron, fruit, sugar, or whatever comes to hand.
1796. P. COLQUHOUN, A Treatise on the Police of the Metropolis, (3rd ed.), 54. The prevailing practice of discharging and delivering the cargoes of ships by a class of aquatic labourers, known by the name of LUMPERS.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, ii. 374. ‘The men to whom it is sublet only find labour, while the LUMPER, or first contractor, agrees for both labour and materials.’ Ibid., ii. p. 107. Then the LUMPERS, or those engaged in discharging the timber ships.
1853. DICKENS, Down with the Tide, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 268. Then there were the LUMPERS, or labourers employed to unload vessels. They wore loose canvas jackets with a broad hem in the bottom, turned inside, so as to form a large circular pocket in which they could conceal, like clowns in pantomimes, packages of surprising sizes…. The LUMPERS dispose of their booty easily to marine store-dealers … LUMPERS also smuggle goods ashore for the crews of vessels.
2. (thieves’).—See quot.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, i. 413. A LUMPER would sell linens, cottons, or silks, which might be really the commodities represented; but which, by some management or other, were made to appear new when they were old, or solid when they were flimsy.
3. (common).—A militia-man.
1869. BLACKMORE, Lorna Doone, xxxviii. He was going to bring the LUMPERS upon us.
4. In pl. (Irish).—Potatoes; MURPHIES (q.v.).
1846. Punch, x. 170. ’Twill tache him to be cuffin’ at me with his ridin’ whip when he rode over my acre and ruined my LUMPERS for me.
5. (scientific).—One who lumps together several species: as opposed to a SPLITTER (q.v.).
1888. Nature, xxxix. 156. The happy medium between LUMPERS and splitters.
