shirk n.
1. a cheating gamester.
Crackfart & Tony 6: The Cheats, the Hectors, the Bullies, and the Shirks in the Baudy-houses, Play-houses, Gaming Ordinaries. | ||
Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Shurk c. a Sharper. | ||
DSUE (8th edn) 1052/1: shirk [...] ‘shark, sharper’, ‘needy parasite’ [...] Also sherk, shurk . |
2. a sponger, a parasite.
‘’Arriet on Labour’ Punch 26 Aug. 88/1: But work-girls work, and that is more than Sam and ’is sort — drat ’em! / When I see shirks platforming, Poll, I’m longing to get at ’em. |