ˈkiddier Obs. exc. dial.
Also kidder.
[Origin obscure.]
One who buys provisions from the producers and takes them to market to sell; = badger n.1 (q.v.).
By the statute of 1552 the kiddier required a licence, and was forbidden to keep the provisions he bought for more than a month. Such carriers were commonly charged with regrating or forestalling, hence the def. quoted by Johnson from Ainsworth, ‘an ingrosser of corn to enhance its price’; cf. under badger.
| 1551–2 Act 5 & 6 Edw. VI, c. 14 §5 The buying of anye Corne Fyshe Butter or Chese, by any suche Badger Lader Kyddier or Carrier. 1562–3 Act 5 Eliz. c. 4 §5 Every person..not..being in Service w{supt}{suph} any Kyddyer or Carryo{supr} of any Corne Grayne or Meale. 1674–91 Ray S. & E. Country Words, A Kidder, Badger, Huckster, or Carrier of Goods on Horse⁓back. 1755 Burn Just. Peace s.v. Butter & Cheese, Licence to be a badger, lader, kidder, carrier, buyer or transporter coastwise, of butter and cheese. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Kiddier, kidger, one who buys up fowls, eggs, pork, &c. at farm-houses..and carries them to market. [1895 E. Anglian Gloss., Kidder,..a pork-butcher, sausage-maker, a low dealer in poultry and provisions.] |
| fig. 1603 Harsnet Pop. Impost. 26 Meeting with the Common badger or Kiddier for Devils, Mr. Peckham at the L.-Staffords house in London. |