▪ I. grasser1 U.S.
(ˈgrɑːsə(r), -æ-)
[f. grass n.1 + -er1.]
A calf brought up on grass as distinguished from one fed on prepared food.
| 1881 Chicago Times 1 June, Several droves of Texas ‘grassers’ were among the fresh arrivals. |
▪ II. grasser2
(ˈgrɑːsə(r), -æ-)
[f. grass v. 8 + -er1.]
= grass n.1 12.
| 1950 P. Tempest Lag's Lexicon 97 Grasser. One who gives information. A ‘squealer’ or ‘squeaker’. The origin derives from rhyming slang: grasshopper—copper; a ‘grass’ or ‘grasser’ tells the ‘copper’ or policeman. 1966 ‘L. Lane’ ABZ of Scouse 46 Grasser, a police informant; a stool-pigeon. 1968 ‘P. Alding’ Circle of Danger vii. 57 Five minutes alone with you and he'll be babbling like a grasser. 1968 R. Jeffries Traitor's Crime iii. 31 ‘How reliable was the original information?’ ‘As reliable as any information is from a grasser.’ |