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Cunning Shaver (Grose 1811 Dictionary)

Cunning Shaver

A sharp fellow, one that trims close, i.e. cheats ingeniously.

Definition taken from The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, originally by Francis Grose.

See also the definition in Nathan Bailey's 1736 dictionary of canting and thieving slang.

Cunning Man * Cunny-thumbed

Nearby

Nathan Bailey's 1736 Dictionary of canting and thieving slang

John S. Farmer's collection of canting songs and slang rhymes

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About

Francis Grose was independently wealthy, having inherited money from his father, a jeweller. Finding himself overspending, he published a number of books; his Provincial Glossary seems to have been the starting-point for the Vulgar Tongue reproduced here.

Cucumbers
Cuff
Cuffin
Cull
Cullability
Cully
Culp
Cundum
Cunningham
Cunning Man
Cunning Shaver
Cunny-thumbed
C**t
Cup of the Creature
Cup-shot
Cupboard Love
Cupid
Cur
Curbing Law
Cure A-se
Curle