ˈcorner-man
1. The end man of a row of ‘negro minstrels’.
| 1873 Slang Dict. s.v., There are two corner men, one generally plays the bones and the other the tambourine. Corner-men are the grotesques of a minstrel company. 1884 Sat. Rev. 7 June 740/1 At the ends are Bones and Tambo, the ‘end-men’, who are known in England, oddly enough, as the ‘corner-men’. |
2. One who lounges about street-corners, a street ‘loafer’ or ‘rough’. Cf. corner-boy, c.-cove (corner n. 16).
| 1885 Chamb. Jrnl. 28 Feb. 136 Curley Bond was well known in the district [in London] as a loafer and ‘corner-man’. 1886 Sat. Rev. 13 Feb. 219 Processions of the most peaceful character are protected against corner-men and roughs. 1890 Daily News 10 Apr. 5/1 The ruffianism of Birmingham is unfortunately the ruffianism of the entire kingdom.. If Birmingham has its claqueurs, Liverpool has its corner men. |
3. Comm. One who makes a corner (n. 14).
| 1881 Daily News 28 Sept. 4/7 A corner, properly speaking, may be called a secondary not a primary Speculation..Some one has taken liberties with the market by speculatively selling what he has not got; and the cornerman comes in and plays Prince Hal and Poins by spoiling the spoilers. 1887 Guardian 23 June 925 The forestallers of the middle ages are reproduced in the corner-men of to-day. |