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White Serjeant (Grose 1811 Dictionary)

White Serjeant

A man fetched from the tavern or ale-house by his wife, is said to be arrested by the white serjeant.

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

White Lie * White Swelling

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.

Whisker Splitter
Whiskin
Whisky
Whistle
Whistling Shop
Whit
White Ribbin
White Feather
White-livered
White Lie
White Serjeant
White Swelling
White Tape
White Wool
Whitechapel
Whitewashed
Whitfielite
Whither-go-ye
Whittington’s College
Whore’s Bird
Whore’s Curse