subs. (common).—1. A rogue.
1603–35. BRETON, A Merry Dialogue [GROSART (1869), ii. i. 12, 2, 50]. But these may rather be called LURCH-MEN then Church-men, who as they are not troubled with much learning, so they have no more honesty.
1888. Daily News, 4 Dec. After that shall try on the lazy LURCHERS who live on unfortunates.
1891. Morning Advertizer, 3 April. It was quite time that the honest and respectable drivers sat down on the LURCHERS once and for all, and when they knew that there were 7,000 of them in London they should think of their power and demand better conditions.
2. (old).—See quot. Also LURCHER OF THE LAW.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. LURCHER, a LURCHER OF THE LAW, a bum bailiff, or his setter.
1839. W. H. AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 12. ‘But where are the LURCHERS?’ ‘Who?’ asked Wood. ‘The traps!’ responded a bystander.
