Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US tramp, also chroneer, chronic, chronicer, croniker) a tramp who begs food rather than money.

1909		F.H. Tillotson How I Became a Detective 90: Chroneer – One who begs for something to eat at private houses.
1918		‘A-No. 1’ Mother of the Hoboes 44: The Rating Of The Tramps 32 Chronicker: hoboed [sic] with cooking utensils.
1933		Ersine Und. and Prison Sl. 27: chronic, chronicer, n. [...] A bum who begs handouts but not money.
1935		A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 27/2: Croniker, a professional beggar.

2. an ill-natured tramp.

1927		‘Jargon of the Und.’ in DN V 442: Chronicker, (2) An illnatured tramp.
1931		Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. Sl. 51: Chronicker. – an illnatured tramp.