† rabbit-sucker Obs.
[Properly an appositive comb., but in some of the transf. uses rabbit may have been taken as objective.]
1. A sucking rabbit, a very young rabbit.
| c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 457 Rabettes sowkers, þe furþer parte from þe hyndur, ye devide. Ibid. 697 Rabettes sowkere. 1591 Lyly Endym. Wks. 1858 II. 70, I preferre an olde cony before a rabbet sucker, and an ancient henne before a young chicken peeper. 1605 Tryall Chev. v. ii. in Bullen Old Pl. 1884 III. 350 If Dicke Bowyer be not writ a bountifull benefactor in hell..I am a rabbit sucker. 1630 J. Taylor (Water P.) Gt. Eater of Kent 6 This same noble Nicke..hath made an end of an hogge all at once, as if it had bin a rabbet-sucker. |
2. transf. (See quots.)
| 1608 Dekker Lanth. & Candlelight E, The commodities that are taken vp are cald Pursenets..They that take up are the Rabbet-suckers. 1663 Cowley Cutter of Colman St. iv. vi, I'm..mistaken if thou beest not cheated of it all..by such Rabbet-suckers as these. a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Rabbet-suckers, young Unthrifts taking up Goods upon Tick at excessive rates. 1725 New Cant. Dict., Rabbet-sucker,..also a Name given to Pawn-brokers and Tally-men. |