autem diver

English

Noun

autem diver (plural autem divers)

  1. (idiomatic, archaic, thieves' cant) Pickpockets who practice in churches; also churchwardens and overseers of the poor.
    • 1823, anonymous author, Tales of My Father, and My Friends:
      “You are up to a thing or two,” said he, “and it is a pity to see a fine lad like you nailed to a stall, like a clodpole.”
      “But how am I to get hold of money otherwise?”
      “In the same way as I got this,” showing a handful of silver, “by turning autem diver..."

References

[Francis] Grose [et al.] (1811) “Autem diver”, in Lexicon Balatronicum. A Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence. […], London: […] C. Chappell, […], →OCLC.

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