or -halter, -rope, -string, -thrift, subs. phr. (old).—A prodigal; one deserving of (or who has cheated) the gallows (GROSE).

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  [?].  MS. Bright, 170, f. 1.

                        Such a SLIPPSTRING trick
As never till now befell us heretofore.

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  1594.  J. LYLY, Mother Bombie, ii. 1. Thow art a SLIPSTRING I’le warrant.

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  1611.  COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Young rascals or scoundrels, rakehells, or SLIPSTRINGS.

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  1619.  FLETCHER, A King and No King, ii. Well, SLIP-STRING, I shall meet with you.

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  1621.  GRANGER, On Ecclesiastes, 273. Thus it is in the house of prodigals, drinking SLIPTHRIFTS, and Belials.

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  d. 1637.  DEKKER, Londons Tempe. We are making arrowes for my SLIP-STRING sonne.

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  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.

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