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Shark (Grose 1811 Dictionary)

Shark

A sharper: perhaps from his preying upon any one he can lay hold of. Also a custom-house officer, or tide-waiter. Sharks; the first order of pickpockets. BOW-STREET TERM, A.D. 1785.

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

Shappo * Sharp

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.

Shallow Pate
Shallow
Sham
To Shamble
Shanker
Shanks
Shanks Naggy
Shannon
Shapes
Shappo
Shark
Sharp
Sharper
Shaver
Shavings
She House
She Lion
She Napper
Sheep’s Head
Sheepish
Sheepskin Fiddler