drogher
(ˈdrəʊgə(r))
Also 8–9 drogger, 9 droger, droguer.
[a. obs. F. drogueur (1525 in Jal and Godef.) ‘a ship which fished and dried herring and mackerel’ (Jal), f. 16th c. Du. drogher, droogher, Du. drooger, a dryer, f. droogen to dry. Cf. F. droguerie, Du. droogerij, drying-place: ‘ce terme se dit de la pêche et de la préparation du hareng’ (Aubin 1702 in Jal).]
A West Indian coasting vessel; hence transferred to other slow clumsy coasting craft.
| [1756 see drover 2 ¶ .] 1782 Ann. Reg. 279/2 If they are not employed in droghers.. means shall be furnished them to depart for the neutral islands. 1790 Phil. Trans. LXXX. 346 Droghers, or vessels employed in carrying stores, &c. from one part of the island [Grenada] to another. 1805 Naval Chron. XIII. 6 A drogger is a Shallop, or Schooner, employed to convey sugar from the Plantations to the Merchantmen. Ibid. XIV. 73 Disguising her as a Droger. 1836 E. Howard R. Reefer xxxiv, This drogher..was a large, half-decked, cutter-rigged vessel. 1860 Bartlett Dict. Amer., Droger or Drogher..built solely for burden, and for transporting cotton, lumber, and other heavy articles. |
b. attrib. and Comb., as drogher-man, drogher system.
| 1873 Gardner Hist. Jamaica 330 Trade..done on what is still known as the drogger system. 1889 J. J. Thomas Froudacity 179 Engage the..droghermen as able seamen. |