subs. (theatrical).—1. A player.
1599. KYD [?], Soliman and Perseda, ii. [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, v. 309]. I was one of the MUMMERS myself, simple as I stand here.
1605. MARSTON, The Insatiate Countesse, iii. Dost make a MUMMER of me, oxe-head? Make answer gentleman.
1610. SHAKESPEARE, Coriolanus, ii. 1. If you chance to be pinched with the cholick, you make faces like MUMMERS.
1772. E. COLES, English Dictionary, s.v.
1821. P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry, p. 78.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, iii. 141. ‘They talk of strolling actors living so jollily and well, but I never knew it fall to my share. What we call a MUMMER’S feed is potatoes and herrings.’
1871. Newark Advertiser, 18 Jan. A party of MUMMERS visited the towns and villages of North Notts during the past fortnight, and highly diverted the inhabitants by their dancing, singing of old songs, and the play of the Hobby Horse. The latter play was in existence in the days of the Plantagenets, and probably the song and tune which they sang, viz., ‘When Joan’s ale was new.’
1886. Fun, 4 Aug., p. 44. Now is the witching hour when country companies are formed, and MUMMERS go on tour.
1893. Daily Telegraph, 30 March. Mr. J. L. Toole has humorously described how at the outset of his career he once took lodgings in a house, the proprietor of which, when the popular comedian went away, cordially shook hands with him, and said how delighted he should be to see him again, although he was a MUMMER; for, the prudent man added, ‘the last MUMMERS took away the chairs and tables.’
2. (pugilistic).—The mouth. For synonyms, see POTATO-TRAP.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1818. P. EGAN, Boxiana, ii. 559. Then he hit him on the MUMMER, and on the ropes he dropped.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.
