Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. the victim of highway robbery.

1608		Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 7: Hee that feedes them with money is calld The Provander.
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Provender c. he from whom any Money is taken on the Highway.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Provender, (cant) he from whom any money is taken on the highway: perhaps providor, or provider.
a.1790		H.T. Potter New Dict. Cant (1795).
1809		G. Andrewes Dict. Sl. and Cant.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785].
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1835		G. Kent Modern Flash Dict.
1848		Flash Dict. in Sinks of London Laid Open.

2. the money that is stolen in such a robbery.

1725

New Canting Dict. n.p.: provender Money taken from any one on the Highway.