verb. (colloquial).—1. To gamble: formerly generic, but mostly confined to small or ‘chicken’ stakes. Hence, PUNTER = a gambler; PUNTING-SHOP = a hell.
17[?]. POPE, The Basset-Table, 67.
| Card. Wretch that I was, how often have I swore, | |
| When Winnall tallied, I would PUNT no more! |
1714. T. LUCAS, Memoirs of Gamesters, etc., 230. PUNTER, a Term for every one of the Gamesters that play.
1754. The World, No. 69. To cut in at whist,… to PUNT at faro, or to sit down at a hazard-table.
1796. J. G. HOLMAN, Abroad and at Home, ii. 4. You who so kindly took me by the hand—taught me to PUNT at Faro.
1855. THACKERAY, The Newcomes, xxviii. A crowd of awestruck amateurs and breathless PUNTERS. Ibid., xxxvi. The idea … of his PUNTING for half-crowns at a neighbouring hell in Air Street.
1886–96. MARSHALL, ‘Pomes’ from the Pink ’Un [‘Nobbled’], 114. There was only one horse in the Derby at which heavy PUNTERS would look.
1889. The Sporting Times, 3 Aug., 4, 4. If the banker deals to both sides without dealing any to himself, the PUNTERS can allow the coup to stand.
1898. Referee, 4 Sept., 11, 4. While Paul is PUNTING with the outside bookmakers, Virginia may listen to the artless prattle of the Silver Ring.
1899. Critic, 11 March, 2, 1. A gentleman … whose face is familiar in the neighbourhood of Capel-court, has been PUNTING in maximums in the private club at Monte Carlo.
2. (Rugby footballers’).—To kick the ball before it touches the ground. Hence PUNT-ABOUT = a practice-ball or -game.
1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown’s School-days, I. v. Hurra! here’s the PUNT-ABOUT, come along and try your hand at a kick.
3. (auctioneers’).—To act as decoy: also PUNTER.
1891. Answers, 4 April. When visiting a small place the auctioneer usually takes his PUNTERS with him, as the faces of local men might be known. A well-dressed PUNTER earns five or six shillings a day, and … are expected to appear in tall hats, gloves, sticks, big brass chains and button-holes.
