Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(UK Und.) the woods or bushes.

c.1566		Harman Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 86: Nowe bynge we a waste to the hygh pad the ruffmanes is by Now let us go hence to the hygh waye the wodes is at hande.
1592		Groundworke of Conny-catching n.p.: [as cit. c.1566].
1608		Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 1: We will filch some duddes: we will filch some clothes. Off the Ruffmans: from the hedges.
1612		Dekker ‘Canting Song’ O per se O O1: When they did seeke, then we did creepe, and plant in Ruff-mans low.
1622		Beaumont & Fletcher Beggar’s Bush III iv: To maund on the pad, and strike all the cheats, / To mill from the Ruffmans, Commission and slates.
1637		Dekker ‘Canting Song’ in Eng. Villainies (8th edn) O: If we Maund [...] he [Harman-beck] cuts, bing to the Ruff-mans.
1648		Dekker ‘Canters Dict.’ Eng. Villainies (9th edn).
1651		T. Randolph Hey for Honesty III i: By these good stampers, upper and nether duds; I’le nip from Ruffmans of the Harmanbeck, Though glimmer’d in the fambles, I cly the chates.
1665		Head Eng. Rogue I 45: To mill each ken, let Cove bing then, / Through Ruff-mans, jague, or Launde.
1674		Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) 4: Some are sent to to break the Rufmans, for firing.
1688		R. Holme Academy of Armory Ch. iii item 68c: Canting Terms used by Beggars, Vagabonds, Cheaters, Cripples and Bedlams. [...] Ruff Mans, the Woods or Bushes.
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Ruffmans the woods or bushes.
1703		Hell Upon Earth 5: When we bien back in the Duceavil, then we will flesh some Duds off the Ruffmans.
1725		New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1737, 1759, 1760, 1776		Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1754		Scoundrel’s Dict.
1785		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: I will not conceal aught I win out of libkins or from the ruffmans, but will preserve it for the use of the company.
1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: Ruffmans. The woods, hedges, or bushes.
1809		G. Andrewes Dict. Sl. and Cant.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1796].
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.
c.1850		Duncombe New and Improved Flash Dict.