DEFINITIONS: L-R
| WORD | DEFINITION |
|---|---|
| L | . | LACE DRAWER | Person employed in lace making, drawing out threads, usually a child | LACE MASTER OR MISTRESS | Person who employed lace makers either in the home or in a factory | LACE RUNNER | A young person who embroidered patterns onto lace | LACEING OR LACER | Huge, Southwest England | LACEMAN | Lace dealer. Bought lace from lace makers, to whom he has sold the thread, and took it to the lace markets | LACEWOMAN | Lady's maid | LADY DAY | 25th March, when contracts were made or terminated | LAETARE | 4th Sunday in Lent | LAGGER | Sailor | LAGRAETMAN | A local constable [Lawrightman] | LAIR | A grave, burial plot in a graveyard [Scotland] | LAIRY | Weary, tired, Wales | LAKE | Play, mid North England | LAMMAS | 1st August | LANARY | Wool store | LANCER | Cavalryman | LAND WAITER | Customs officer who inspected landed goods | LANDSMAN | Seaman on his maiden voyage | LANKY | Lancashire or person from that county, Northwest England | LAPIDARY | Person who cuts, polishes and engraves precious stones | LARDNER | Person who maintained a pantry/cupboard | LAST | Twelve sacks | LASTER | Cobbler, maker of shoes with a last [a wooden foot-shaped block] | LATH RENDER[ER] | Plasterer's assistant who made the first coat of plaster onto laths on a floor or ceiling | LATTENER | Skilled metal worker who worked with latten, an alloy similar to brass | LAUDANUM | Tincture of opium | LAUNDERER | Washer | LAUNDRESS | Washerwoman, washer of linen | LAVENDER | Washerwoman, from French `laver,' to wash | LAYER | Paper-maker in a papermill | LAYLAND | Pasture land | LEAVELOOKER | Food inspector at a market | LEDERER | Leathermaker | LEECH | Physician | LEGERDEMAINIST | Magician | LEGGER | Canal boatman who `walked' a canalboat through a tunnel [lying on his back pushing with his feet on the tunnel roof.] Also a horse marine. | LEIGHTONWARD | Gardener [Leighton = Garden] | LETTER CARRIER | Early postman, 18th century. The Post Office appointed many letter carriers in 1722 to deliver mail house to house | LEVELLERS | Political group, mainly soldiers, during the Civil Wars, who pressed for reforms under the leadership of John Lilburne | LICENCED VICTUALLER | Person who sold alcohol | LIEF | As soon as, Midlands | LIGHTBOB | Light infantry soldier | LIGHTERMAN | Boatman on a lighter, a large open flat-bottomed boat which loaded and unloaded sea-going vessels in a harbour | LIMNER | Illuminator of books. A painter or drawer. | LINENER | Linen draper or shirtmaker | LINER OR LYNER | Flax dresser | LINK | Eight inches | LINKBOY, LINKERBOY OR LINKERMAN | Person who carried a link [torch] to lead people through city streets at night for a fee. Held a licence from the early 19th century | LINKERMAN | General manservant, late 19th century | LIPPY | Half a gallon, Scotland | LISH | Agile or fit, Northwest England | LISTER OR LITSTER | Cloth dryer | LITTERMAN | Horse groom | LOADSMAN | Ships's pilot | LOBBY GOBBLER | Native of Leigh, from a stew called Lobscouse, Northwest England | LOBLOLLY BOY | Errand boy or surgeon's assistant on a ship | LOCK KEEPER | Inspector or supervisor of canal locks | LOCK-JAW | Tetanus | LODGER | Person provided with accommodation but not meals | LOG WOOD GRINDER | Person who made a dye from logwood which was used in textiles | LOMBARD | Banker or money lender | LONG SONG SELLER | Person who sold popular songsheets on yard-long papers in the street | LONGSHOREMAN | A stevedore, person who unloaded or loaded ships | LONGSHOREMAN | Fisherman who caught catches from shore, or close to the shore | LORIMER, LORMER OR LORINER | Also spurrier. Made spits, bridles and other metal parts of a horse harness... Bridlemaker | LORIMER, LORMER OR LORINER | Person who worked in wrought iron, or made small ironware | LONK | Hungry, Wales | LOON, LOONIE | Boy or lad, Scotland | LOSE | To miss [ie, lose the bus], Wales | LOTSELLER | Street seller | LOUP | Run and jump, Scotland | LOVE DAYS | Days appointed in medieval times for the clergy to arbitrate and settle disputes, as they were supposedly `amicable' days | LUDDITES | Unemployed workers who rioted and ransacked factories in the Midlands, fearing for their futures with the introduction of machinery 1811-1816 | LUG | Ear, Northwest England and mid North England | LUM | A chimney, Scotland | LUM SWOOPER | Chimney sweep, Scotland | LUMPER | Dock labourer who unloaded timber cargoes, employed by a master lumper, not the dock company | LUMPER | Person who produced fine grain salt from salt moulded into lumps | LUNGS | Alchemist's servant who fanned a fire | M | . | MACARONIS | Dandies who belonged to a `Macaroni Club' in London about 1760, and who partook in gambling, drinking and duelling. The name originated from a trip some of them made to Italy where they gained a liking for pasta | MADERER | Person who harvested and sold garlic | Rent | MAIL GUARD | An armed man, often a former soldier, who guarded mail coaches. Later Post Office guards were formalised | MAISE MAKER | Person who made measures for weighing herring catches | MAJOR | A person of full age | MAKEM | Inhabitants of Sunderland [possibly originating from shipbuilding industry: Makem ships and takem down the river], NE England | MAKER-UP | Person who assembled garments to custonmer's requirements, or a chemist, or a paraffin agent | MALEMAKER OR MALER | Person who made travelling bags [males]. The term was adopted by the Royal mail from the large mail bags used | MALENDER | Farmer | MALSTER/MALTMAN | Person who prepared malt for the brewing industry | MAMGU [MAMGHEE] | Grandmother, Wales | MANCHESTER MAN | Late 18th century, a wholesale travelling salesman trading between factories and shops with goods on packhorses. Either independent or employed by the factory | MANCIPLE | Steward | MANGLE KEEPER | Woman who hired mangles for a fee | MANGO | Slave dealer | MANTLE FOREWOMAN | A person highly skilled in dressmaking | MANTUA MAKER | Dressmaker, from `Mantua,' a woman's loose gown | MARBLER | Person who stained paper or other material with a marbled effect, often seen lining book covers | MARD-ARSE | Soft, babyish, mid North England | MARDY | Grumpy or moody, NW England | MARINE STORE DEALER | Licensed broker in north England and Scotland. Bought, graded, repaired and sold waste materials of all kinds. In Scotland, denoted a ships chandler | MARINER | Seaman in the merchant marine with a rank equivalent to the Royal Navy rank of able seaman | MARRER | Workmate, NE England | MARSHALL | Horse doctor or shoesmith | MARSHMAN | Man employed by various landowners to look after marshlands and to tend animals grazing there, count stock morning and night, and to see if any animals had fallen in the dykes | MARTINMAS | 11th November | MASH | To brew tea, Midlands | MASHMAKER | Person who made mash-vats or mashels for mixing malt | MASON | Stonecutter or stone dresser | MASTER | In the guild of crafts, one of three grades or skills. Also a captain of a vessel at sea | MASTER LUMPER | Person who contracted labourers at a cheap rate, often a publican | MASTER MARINER | Sea captain in merchant marine | MATCHET FORGER | Knifemaker [from machete] | MATER/MOYR | Mother | MAWER OR MATHER | Mower | MEALMAN | Dealer in meal or flour | MELDER | Corn miller | MERCATOR | Merchant | MERCER | Cloth seller, mostly of silks and velvets. Also a draper | MERK/MARK | 13/4 pence, Scotland | METERER | Poet | METRIST | Balladmonger | MICHAELMAS | 29th Septemeber | MIDDLINGS | Coarse meal usually fed to cattle | MILE | 1760 yards | MILE | 2240 yards, Ireland | MILLERESS | Miller's wife | MILLINER | Seller of fancy wares, items of apparel, maker of ladies' hats | MILLPECK | Person who sharpened mill stones | MILLWRIGHT | Person who designed or built mills, mill machinery | MILSTONE INSPECTOR | Vagrant, or `gentleman of the road' | MINOR | A person under the age of 21 years | MINTMAKER OR MINTMASTER | Issuer of local currency | MITCH OR MOOCH | Play truant, Wales | MIXER | Bartender | MIZZLE | Light rain, Scotland | MOCADO WEAVER | Weaver of woollen cloth used for making clothing in 16th and 17th centuries. Also called mock velvet | MOGGY | A cat, except in West Lancashire, where it is a mouse, NW England | MOITHER | Annoy, NW England | MOLITOR | Miller | MOLLY MAGUIRES | Male members of an Irish secret society in 1843 who dressed as women to surprise and scare off rent collectors, fighting against evictions | MONDAYMAN | Also cottager. Person who worked for a landowner on Mondays in lieu of rent | MONGER | A dealer in goods, whether fish, iron etc | MONTHLY NURSE | Nurse who attended women in the first month after a baby's birth | MOONLIGHTERS | An Irish secret society in the late 19th century, also referring to people who leave their home in the middle of the night to avoid rents, hence `Moonlight Flit.' | MOOTMAN | Law Student | MORT | A lot, SW England | MORT-CLOTH | The pall carried over the coffin at a funeral | MORTAL | Drunk, NE England | MORTIFICATION | Bequest of property, usually for charity | MORTIFICATION | Gangrene | MOSS TROOPERS | Bandits who roamed the boggy border lands between England and Scotland from the mid 17th century | MOULDER | Person who makes moulds or castings, or a brickmaker | MOULDER RUNNER | Assistant to a pottery moulder, a young boy who ran between master and drying oven carrying full moulds and returning with empty ones | MOUNTEBANK | Person who sold ineffective patent medicines | MOVEABLE ESTATE | Property which is not heritable, and which passes to the next of kin | M.S. | Maiden Surname, Merchant Service or Male Servant | MUCKLE OR MICKLE | Big, Scotland | MUD-LARKS | 19th century nickname for scavengers at low tide on the Thames. In general a sewer cleaner, or riverbank scavenger | MUFFIN MAKER | A muffin baker, or a pottery worker, who made a special variety of plate known as a muffin | MUFFIN MAN | Person who travelled and sold muffins | MUGGLER | Pigman | MUGSELLER | Person who dealt in cups and mugs | MULESKINNER | Teamster | MULETEER | Muledriver | MULLER | Miller, Scotland | MULTURER | Miller | MUMCHANCE | Dejectedly or bored, Midlands | MUMMER | Actor, Masquerador | MUSICKER | Musician | MUSTARDMAN OR MUSTARDER | Mustard dealer | MUTCHKIN | About a pint, Scotland | N | . | NAIL | Two and a quarter inches | NAILOR | Card nailor | NAIN [NINE] | Grandmother, Wales | NAPERER | Royal servant in charge of table linen | NAPIER | Person in charge of table linen in a manor house | NARKED, GOT A NARK ON | Annoyed, Midlands | NARROW WEAVER | Weaver of ribbons, tapes etc. Also ribbon weaver | NATURAL | Illegitimate | NAUTICAL MILE | 6076 feet | NAVIGATOR OR NAVIGOR | Sailor in charge of navigation. Also a labourer who cut canals, and later a worker in railway construction | NAZZY | Bad-tempered, NW England | NEATHERD[ER] | Cow herder | NEB | Nose, mid North England | NEBBIN OR NEBBY | Nosey, mid North England | NECESSARY WOMAN | Servant responsible for the empting and cleaning of chamber pots | NECKER | Person who fed cardboad into the machine which folds boxes | NEDELLER | Needle maker | NEEDLE POINTER | A person who did needlepoint work, or, in needlemaking, a filer or fettler | NEPHEW | Illegitimate son of a Clergyman | NESH | Cold, soft, mid North England | NETTER | Person who made nets | NETTIE | Toilet, NE England | NETTLE RASH | Urticaria or hives | NEVOY | Nephew [Scotland] | NIGHT SOILMAN OR NIGHTMAN | Person who emptied cesspits, ashpits and backyard toileys | NIGHTWALKER | Nightwatchman or bellman | NIMGIMMER | Doctor | NIP | Measure of spirits, Scotland | NIPPER | Lorry boy, a young person employed by the carter or wagoner to assist him in collection and delivery of goods | NOB THATCHER | Wig maker | NOBLE | Old coin 6/8 pence | NOGGIN | Liquid measure equal to quarter pint, or a small cup | NOGGIN | A thick slice of bread, Midlands | NOON TENDER | Person who guarded goods on a quay whilst officers had lunch | NOTARY OR NOTERER | Person authorised to draw up or attest to contracts, wills, deeds etc, and to protest bills of exchange | NOUSE | Common sense, NW England | NOWT | Nothing, mid North England | NYAFF | Idiot, Scotland | O | . | OCCUPIER | Tradesman | OE/OI/OY/OYE | Grandson or nephew [Scotland] | OFF | Hostile or angry, Wales | OILMAN | Person who sold oil for lamps | OLITOR | A kitchen gardener [olitory, a kitchen garden] | OLLAMH | Irish doctor | ONSTEAD | Farmstead, Scotland | ORCADIAN | Orkney Islander | ORDERLY | Soldier who served an officer | ORDINARY KEEPER | Innkeeper | ORRERY MAKER | Person who made a mechanical apparatus which displayed the movement of planets, named for the inventor, the Earl of Orrery | ORRICE WEAVER | Designer of lace patterns to be woven with silk thread and silk | OSIER PEELER | Person who removed bark from willow rods or osiers, which were used in basketry. Usually women or children. Also withy peelers | OSTIARY | Monastery door keeper | OSTLER | Hostler | OUNCE | Weight measurement | OUT CRIER | Auctioneer | OUTWITH | Outside, beyond | OUTWORKER | Person who worked at home | OVERLAID | Child accidentally smothered in parent's bed | OVERLOOKER | Superintendent or overseer, particularly ion the textile mills. Could be a hereditary position | OVERMAN | Supervisor in a coal mine who checked workers and the quality of the coal | OWLER | Person associated with smuggling, especially sheep or wool | OWT | Something, anything, mid North England | P | . | PACK | 240 Pounds | PACK O' SAFTNESS | A load of nonsense, Midlands | PACK THREAD SPINNER | Person who made machined thread or twince. | PACKER | Person who packs pickles, herrings etc | PACKMAN | Pedlar | PAD MAKER | Person who made small baskets | PAIL | To beat, Midlands | PAINTER'S PARALYSIS | Lead poisoning, also called drop wrist. | PAINTESS | Woman in a pottery who handpainted pieces. | PALINGMAN | A fishmonger, especially of eels. | PALISTER | Park keeper | PALLATIC | Drunk, NE England | PALSY | Paralysis | PAND/PAWN | Pledge, usually a sum of money, found in old parish register marriage entries, Scotland | PANEL/PANNEL | Prisoner at the bar | PANNIER MAN | Fishmonger | PANNIFEX | Person who worked in the clothing trade | PANSMITH | Metal worker, especially maker of pans | PANTER | Person who stocked a pantry | PANTLER | Butler | PAPERER | Person in the needletrade who set needles into paper cases according to size, ready for sale | PAPER STAINER | Person who coloured paper, by machine, or by hand | PARDONER | Person who sold indulgences to raise funds for religious works | PARGETER | Ornamental plasterer | PARKER | Person responsible for a hunting or game park | PARKY | Cold, Mid North England | PASSAGE KEEPER | Person who kept alleyways tidy | PASTELER | Pastry chef | PASTOR | Shepherd | PATER | Father | PATTEN MAKER | Person who made clogs, or wooden soles [pattens] to protect normal shoes from the wet | PAVER/PAVIOUR | Person who laid paving stones | PAVYLER | Person who erected tents or pavilions | PECH | To pant or puff, Scotland | PECK | Two gallons | PEDANT | Schoolmaster | PEDASCULE | Schoolmaster | PEDLAR/PEDLER | Itinerant person who bought and sold goods | PEELER | Policeman, from Sir Robert Peel, Police force founder | PEELIE-WALLY | Pale, sickly looking, weak, Scotland | PEEVER | Pepper seller | PEG IT | To run away, Midlands | PELTERER | Person who worked with pelts [skins] | PENDICLER | Inferior tenant | PENNY | Copper coin | PENNY WEDDING | Wedding at which guests gave money towards food and drink | PERAMBULATOR | Surveypr | PERCH | 5½ Yards, Pole | PERCHEMEAR | Parchment maker | PEREGRINATOR | Itinerant worker | PERIWIG MAKER | Wig maker | PERUKE MAKER/PERUKER | Wig maker | PESSONER | Fishmonger | PETER MAN | Fisherman | PETTIFOGGER | Low class lawyer | PETTY | Toilet, Wales | PETTY CHAPAN | Pedlar, itinerant trader | PEW OPENER | Person hired to open doors to private pews in church | PHILOSOPHICAL INSTRUMENT MAKER | Craftsman who made scientific instruments | PHRENOLOGIST | Person who assessed another's character based on the bumps on their head: `Reading the Bumps.' | PICKER | Person who cast the shuttle on a loom | PICKLE | A small quantity, NE England | PIECE BROKER | Person who sold material remnants | PIECE WORKER | Clothing worker, oftern working from home, paid for the number of pieces completed rather than by the hours. Later also applied to mill workers who m ade only one section of a garment. | PIECEMASTER | Middleman between employer and employee who handed out the piecework | PIECER OR PIECENER | A person in a spinning mill, usually a child, who pieced together broken threads | PIGMAKER | Person who made `pig' iron [cast iron]. Also a pottery worker | PIGMAN | Crockery seller, or a pig breeder or farmer | PIKEMAN | A miller's assistant, person who worked a turnpike, or a soldier who carried a pike [Spear-like weapon] | PIKER | Vagrant | PILL BOX BOTTOMER OR LIDDER | In the pottery trade, person who made parts of a pill box | PILLER | Robber | PILM | Dust, Wales | PILOT | Shipe steersman | PIN | Half a firkin | PINDER | Dog catcher, pound keeper, person in charge of the pinfold [a pound for stray animals] | PINER | Labourer | PINNER | Pin maker | PINNER UP | Dressmaker's assistant, or a person who sold broadsheets or ballads in the street | PINT | Four Gills | PIPE | 126 Gallons | PIPER | Innkeeper | PISTOR | Baker | PIT BROW LASS | Female who worked on the surface in a coal mine | PITCHING | Settling of snow, SW England | PITHER | To potter about, Midlands | PITMAN | Coal miner | PITMATIC | A coalminers' dialect NE England | PLAIN WORKER | Person who produced sewing without embroidery | PLAITER | Person who made straw plaits in hat-making | PLANKER | Person who `planks' or kneads the body of a hat during felting | PLAYDERER | Plaid maker | PLEACHER/PLAICHER/PLATCHER/PLASHER | Hedge layer | PLEADER | Barrister | PLEDGEE | Pawnbroker | PLEDGER | Pawnbroker's customer | PLOWMAN | Farmer | PLOWWRIGHT | Person who makes or repairs ploughs | PLUFF | Unwell, SW England | PLUMASSIER OR PLUMER | Person who made or sold ornamental feathers [plumes] | PLUMBER | Lead worker, but came to be the term for a person who maintains pipes or drains | PO FAGGED | Exhausted, NW England | POINTER | Person who sharpened needles or pins | POINTMAKER/POINTMAN | Person who made the tips of laces | POINTSMAN | Railway worker who operated the points | POKE | Bag, NE England | POLDAVE WORKER | Maker of poldave, a coarse fabric | POLE | 16½ Feet | POLE LATHE TURNER | Woodworker | POLEMAN | Surveyor's assistant | POLENTIER | Poulterer | POLICIES | Grounds of a house [Scotland] | POLLER | Barber | PONDERATOR | Inspector of weights and measures | PONY DRIVER | Young person in charge of a coalpit pony used to pull coal tubs | PORTIONER | Proprietor of a small feu [Scotland] | PORTMANTEAU MAKER | Person who made large leather trunks to store clothing in | POSTER | Person who worked in quarries breaking rocks | POSTILLION | Person who attached extra horses to coaches or wagons for hill climbing, or who changed horses on long distance coach journeys | POSTURER | Acrobat | POT BURNER | Person who fired pots in a furnace | POTATO BADGER | Potato seller | POTCH | To foretstall, Midlands | POTBOY/POTMAN | Person in a tavern who washed up and did menial tasks, barman | POTTER CARRIER | Chemist or Pharmacist | POTTER PRESSER | A potter who used a mould | POTTER THROWER | Potter who used a wheel | POTTLE | Four Pints | POUCH MAKER | Person who made pouches or purses | POULTERER OR POULTER | Poultry dealer | POUND | Twenty shillings | POWER | A lot, SW England | POWER LOOM TUNER | Person who maintained mill looms | POWLER | Barber | POWND | Stresses, NW England | POYNTER | Lace maker | PRECEPT OF SASINE | A written order for the delivery of land or property [Scotland] | PRECEPTRESS | School mistress | PRENTIS | An apprentice | PRICK LOUISE | Tailor | PRICKER | A patternmaker, horseman or witch hunter | PRIG NAPPER | Horse thief | PROCTOR | University official | PROP BOBBY | Mine worker who checked pit props | PROTHONARY | Law clerk | PUDDLER | Person who worked clay into puddle for making canal walls or dykes watertight, or a person who worked in puddling iron | PUGGARD | Thief | PUGGER | Person in a brick factory who produced clay paste by treading mud | PUMBUM WORKER | Plumber | PUNCHEON | A large cask, France | PUNKY | Chimney sweep | PUPIL | A child up to age of 12 for a girl, 14 for a boy | PURE GATHERER OR PICKER | Someone, usually an old woman or child, who went round streets picking up dog turds which were used in the tanning industry for processing hides | PURSER | Ship's officer in charge of provisions and accounts, paymaster, or a plaintiff, Scotland | PURSY OR PUTSY | Easy, Wales | PUTTER | Person who hauled coal mine tubs | PUTTER IN | Person who entered things into a mechanical process | Q | . | QUARREL PICKER | Glazier | QUARRIER | Quarryman | QUART | . | QUARTER | 28 Pounds | QUARTERN | A Gill, Four Pounds | QUHA | Who [Scotland] | QUHILK | Which [Scotland] | QUILLER | Person who wound yarn onto spools | QUILTER OR QUILTRESS | Person who made quilts | QUINCY | Tonsilitis | QUIRE | 24 Sheets | QUISTER | Person who bleached materials | QWYLWRYGHTE | Wheelwright | R | . | RACK MAIDEN | Girl who dressed ore in Cornish tin mines | RADGE | Slightly deranged person, Scotland | RAFF MERCHANT | Person who dealt in fibre to make raffia bags and other items | RAFFMAN | Person who dealt in raff [junk] | RAG AND BONE MAN | Street collector of any unwanted goods, furniture, old clothes, kit etc, usually in exchange for some trifle. | RAG CUTTER | Person who cut down rags for use in paper-making G | RAG GATHERERS | Person, usually a child, who cleared rags from mill machinery | RAG MAN | Street collector of old clothes and bags | RAG PICKER | Sorter and recycler of rags | RAKER | Person who cleaned streets | RARE | Great, good, Scotland | RATONER | Rat catcher | RATTLEWATCH | Town watchman | REAM | Twenty Quires | REDAR | Person who interpreted dreams | REDSMITH | Goldsmith | REEDER | Person who worked reeds for hedges or thatch | REEDMAKER | Person who made the pipe for wind instruments, or who made a weaver's implement called a reed, or reed-cloth, or the comb used in tapestry | REEK | Smoke, Scotland | REELER | Person who used a machine to wind yarn on to a bobbin | REESTY | Rancid, Midlands | REEVE | A royal or manor official appointed by the Lord or elected by peasants, also a church warden | REEVER | Shriever | REGISTRAR | Official who kept records such as land purchases, births, deaths and marriages etc | RELICT | Widow | RELIEVING OFFICER | Official who took care of the poor or insane | RENOVATOR | Person who repaired clothing | REVENUER | Person who enforced liquor taxes | RICKMASTER | A Captain of Horse | RIDDLER | Wool stapler | RIDING | County sub division | RIFTERE | Reaper | RIGGER | Hoist tackle worker, ship's rigging worker | RIGHT | Very, mid North England | RIPPER/RIPPIER | Dealer in fresh water fish at markets, or a maker and seller of baskets | RIVERMAN | Riverboat worker | ROBIN DOGS | Cheated, ripped off, Midlands | ROCKGETTER | Rocksalt miner | ROCKMAN | Person who placed charges on a rockface in a quarry | ROD | 5½ yards | RODMAN | Surveyor's assistant, poleman | ROLL TURNER | Carder of wool or cotton into rolls prior to spinning | ROLLER COVERER | Person who covered the rollers for the spinning process | ROLLEYWAY MAN | Person who maintained the underground road in a mine | ROOD | Quarter acre or forty square rods | ROPER | Person who made nets and ropes | ROUP | Auction | ROVER | Archer | ROVER | Person in a Lancashire cotton mill who machined carded fibre into rolls | RUB | Piece of sandstone used by a reaper to sharpen his scythe | RUB-BAG | Small leather pouch hanging from a reaper's belt to hold his rub | RUBBLER/RUBBISHER | Employee of a quarry who sorted small stones | RUGMAN | Rug dealer | RUNNER | As in Bow Street Runner, someone who worked for a magistrate. A messenger. Also a smuggler | RUPTURE | Hernia | RUSTLER | Cattle thief | RYAL | Gold coin, Rose Noble |
Definitions Index:
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Updated February 12th 2004