dragger
(ˈdrægə(r))
[f. drag v. + -er1.]
1. One who drags: in various senses of the vb.
| ? a 1500 in Audelay's Poems (Percy Soc.) Notes 85 Jangler cum jasper, lepar, galper quoque, draggar. 1598 Florio, Oncimatore, a hooker or a dragger. Ibid., Sarpatore, a puller, a drawer, a tugger, or a dragger. 1724 Session Minutes in Cramond Ch. of Rathven 60 Anent the ware draggers, there being ane act against dragging ware on Sabbath. 1854 Badham Halieut. 4 [It] Resists each pull, and 'gainst the dragger, drags. |
2. spec. a. One who uses a drag or dredge. b. A street-seller of small wares.
| 1887 Pall Mall G. 23 Aug. 8/2 Even when the tide was quite down, the draggers encountered almost insuperable difficulties. 1896 Daily News 26 Feb. 6/3 These men..technically termed ‘draggers’, frequent the City, and..are to be found cheek by jowl with the greatest children of commerce. |
† 3. One who robs vehicles: cf. drag n. 8. slang.
| 1781 G. Parker View Soc. II. 151. |
4. Comb., as † draggerman, one who fishes with a drag-net.
| 1630 [see drag v. 7 b]. |