or -halter, -rope, -string, -thrift, subs. phr. (old).A prodigal; one deserving of (or who has cheated) the gallows (GROSE).
[?]. MS. Bright, 170, f. 1.
Such a SLIPPSTRING trick | |
As never till now befell us heretofore. |
1594. J. LYLY, Mother Bombie, ii. 1. Thow art a SLIPSTRING Ile warrant.
1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Young rascals or scoundrels, rakehells, or SLIPSTRINGS.
1619. FLETCHER, A King and No King, ii. Well, SLIP-STRING, I shall meet with you.
1621. GRANGER, On Ecclesiastes, 273. Thus it is in the house of prodigals, drinking SLIPTHRIFTS, and Belials.
d. 1637. DEKKER, Londons Tempe. We are making arrowes for my SLIP-STRING sonne.
1659. Lady Alimony, iv. 6. [DODSLEY, Old Plays, (1876), xiv. 349]. As I hope for mercy, I am half-persuaded that this SLIP-HALTER has pawned my clothes.