subs. (old).—1. In pl. = the feet: orig. of sheep (B. E. and GROSE): whence SHAKE (BOX or MOVE) YOUR TROTTERS! = ‘Begone! troop off!’ TO SHAKE ONE’S TROTTERS AT BILBY’S BALL (where the sheriff pays the fiddlers) = to be put in the stocks (GROSE: ‘perhaps the Bilboes ball’). TROTTER-CASES (or BOXES) = boots or shoes.
1838. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, xviii. He applied himself to a process which Mr. Dawkins designated as ‘japanning his TROTTER-CASES.’
1839. W. H. AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard, I. ii. All ’s bowman, my covey. Fear nothing. We ’ll be upon the bandogs before they can SHAKE THEIR TROTTERS!
1892. SYDNEY WATSON, Wops the Waif, iv. Teddy, look out, yer-ve got yer hoof on my TROTTERS.
1899. H. WYNDHAM, The Queen’s Service, 52. That particular cut known as ‘bell-bottoms’ … technically known as ‘having one’s strides cut a bit saucy-like over the TROTTERS.’
2. (university).—A tailor’s assistant: he goes on round for orders; also (dressmakers’ and milliners’) = a messenger: Fr. trottin.
1898. G. GISSING, The Town Traveller, iv. Did she not well remember the day when the poverty of home sent her, a little girl, to be ‘TROTTER’ in a workroom?
