One who bids at auctions, not with an intent to buy, but only to raise the price of the lot; for which purpose many are hired by the proprietor of the goods on sale.
Definition taken from The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, originally by Francis Grose.
Pudding Time * Puff GutsNathan Bailey's 1736 Dictionary of canting and thieving slang
John S. Farmer's collection of canting songs and slang rhymes