bug, v.¹ — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

bug v.¹

1. to bribe (a policeman or, earlier, bailiff) [19C use is mainly US].

c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew.
1725		New Canting Dict.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.

2. to hand over, to give; often as bug over.

1812		Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 230: ‘He bug’d me a quid.’ ‘Bug over the rag.’.
1889–90		Barrère & Leland Dict. of Sl., Jargon and Cant.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues 1 359/2: bug [...] (thieves’) To give; hand over; to deliver.

3. to obtain by underhand or illegal means.

1886		W. Newton Secrets of Tramp Life Revealed 10: Bug ... To rob anyone.
1931		J.G. Brandon Th’ Big City in DU.

bug over (v.)

(UK Und.) to hand over.

1812		Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang.
1834		(con. 1737–9) in W.H. Ainsworth Rookwood (1857).
1889–90		Barrère & Leland Dict. of Sl., Jargon and Cant.

bug the writ (v.)

of a bailiff or other court officer, to postpone handing out a writ, having been given a suitable bribe.

1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues 1 359/2: bug [...] (thieves’) To bribe. In old slang, bailiffs accepting money to delay service were said to bug the writ.