subs. (old).—A rogue; a SPONGE (q.v.): as verb. = to cheat; to play the sponge: cf. SKELLUM. Hence SKELDERING = swindling; sponging.
1599. JONSON, Every Man out of his Humour, The Character of the Persons. Shift,… His profession is SKELDRING and odling. Ibid. (1601), The Poetaster, iii. 4. A man may SKELDER ye now and then of half a dozen shillings or so. Ibid., i. 1. There was the mad SKELDERING captain … that presses every man he meets, with an oath to lend him money.
1609. DEKKER, The Guls Horne-booke, v. If he be poore, he shall now and then light upon some Gull or other, whom he may SKELDER (after the gentile fashion) of mony.
1611. MIDDLETON and DEKKER, The Roaring Girle, v. 1. Soldiers? You SKELDERING varlets!
1633. MARMION, A Fine Companion.
| Wandering abroad to SKELDER for a shilling | |
| Amongst your bowling alleys. |
1602. DEKKER, Satiromastix [HAWKINS, The Origin of the English Drama, iii. 119]. If SKELDRING fall not to decay, thou shalt flourish.
1823. SCOTT, Peveril of the Peak, xxxviii. She hath many a thousand stitched to her petticoat; such a wife would save thee from SKELDERING on the public.
