† ˈdraw-latch, n. Obs.
[f. draw v. + latch. With sense 3 cf. dial. latch, a lazy or indolent fellow.]
1. A string hanging on the outside of a door by which a latch is drawn or raised.
| 1614 J. Cooke Tu Quoque in Hazl. Dodsley XI. 249 I'll pull out my tongue, and hang it at her door for a draw-latch. |
2. A thief who enters by drawing up the latch; a sneaking thief; a sneak. Cf. latch-drawer.
| 1331 Act 5 Edw. III, c. 14 Roberdesmen, Wastours & Draghlacche. 1383 Act 7 Rich. II, c. 1 §5. c 1515 Cocke Lorell's B. (Percy Soc.) 5 With davy drawelache of rokyngame. 1546 J. Heywood Prov. (1867) 72 To make me Iohn drawlache, or such a snekebill. 1607 Cowell Interpr., Drawe latches..Master Lamberd..calleth them miching theeves, as wasters. |
3. Applied opprobriously, esp. to a lazy laggard.
| 1538 Latimer Serm. & Rem. (1845) 393 If the masters be not good, but honourers of drawlatches, change them. 1583 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 55 Your drawlach loytrers. 1599 Warn. Faire Wom. i. 394 Some heavy drawlatch would have been this month..Before he could have found my policy. a 1610 Chettle Hoffman G j (N.), If I pepper him not, say I am not worthy to be cald a duke, but a drawlatch. |
Hence † ˈdrawlatch v. intr., to sneak, shuffle, lag behind.
| 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe 59 Baw waw quoth Bagshaw to that which drawlacheth behinde. |