† ˈcrack-halter Obs.
[f. crack v. + halter.]
One likely to crack or strain a halter, i.e. to die by the gallows; a gallows-bird; = crack-hemp, crack-rope. Also playfully: cf. ‘rogue’.
It has been suggested that the original sense was perhaps ‘one who has cracked or broken the halter, and so escaped death’.
| 1566 Gascoigne Supposes i. 4 You crackhalter, if I catch you by the ears, I'll make you answer directly. 1579 Gosson Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 30 The litle crackhalter that carrieth his maisters pantouffles. 1607 Dekker Northw. Hoe iv. Wks. 1873 III. 52 Fetherstones boy, like an honest crack-halter, layd open all to one of my prentices. |