subs. (streets’).—1. A prostitute: see TART: also PROSSY.
2. (theatrical).—A cadged drink: also as verb. (or adv., ON THE PROSS) = (1) to spunge, and (2) to instruct or break in a stage-struck youth; PROSSER = (1) a cadger of drinks, dinners, and small monies (but see quot. 1851), and (2) a PONCE (q.v.). PROSSER’S AVENUE = the Gaiety bar.
1851. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, iii. 145. The regular salary [of strolling player] doesn’t come to more than a pound a-week, but then you make something out of those who come up on the parade, for one will chuck you 6d., some 1s. and 2s. 6d. We call those parties PROSSES.
c. 1876. Song, ‘I Can’t Get at it.’ I’ve PROSSED my meals from off my pals, ofttimes I’ve badly fared.
1883. Referee, 18 Nov., 3, 4. For he don’t haunt the Gaiety Bar, dear boys, A-standing (or PROSSING FOR) drinks.
1885. The Saturday Review, 15 Aug., 218. Accept his decision and neither thunder against him in PROSSER’S AVENUE (as it is called), nor encourage young journalists to state your views upon him in print.
1886. Cornhill Magazine, Nov., 559. Gradually, he became what is known as a PROSSER—a loafer, a beggar of small loans, a respectful attendant outside the circle of other men’s merriment, into which for charity’s sake he was sometimes invited.
1893. P. H. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, xiv. He started walking about clamming, getting a few middays as from one and another, fairly ON THE PROSS and glad to put up with a quatro soldi kip, like the rest of us.
