Rounder

subs. (common).—1.  A whoremaster: see MUTTON-MONGER: spec. a FANCY-MAN (q.v.).

  2.  (common).—A person or thing taking or making a ROUND (subs., senses 1–6).

  3.  (common).—A round of cheers.

  1882.  BLACKMORE, Christowell, xxxiii. Was off amid a ROUNDER of ‘Thank ’e, ma’am, thank ’e; plaize to come again, and tell us.’

  4.  (common).—A big oath.

  1885.  CAMPBELL PRAED, The Head Station, vii. We can all swear a ROUNDER in the stockyard.

  5.  (American).—A man who goes habitually from bar to bar.

  1883.  Century, xxxvi. 249. Midnight ROUNDERS, with nose laid over … as evidence of their prowess in bar-room mills and paving-stone riots.

  1886.  Philadelphia Times [Century]. G … had made himself conspicuous as a ROUNDER.

  1887.  Christian Union, 25 Aug. A very large proportion … are old ROUNDERS, who return again and again.

  TO ROUND (or ROUND IN THE EAR), verb. phr. (old).—To whisper.

  1604.  SHAKESPEARE, Winter’s Tale, i. 2, 217. They’re … whispering, ROUNDING.

  1611.  COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. S’ACCOUTER A L’OREILLE.

  See ROUND, subs. and adj., and ROUND-ABOUT.