toucher n.2
1. (US Und.) a pickpocket.
Morning Herald (N.Y.) 30 June 2/5: Pickpockets caught. – Two ‘touchers,’ as the pickpockets phrase themselves, were yesterday arrested. |
2. one who practises the touch game under touch n.1
N.Y. Daily Trib. 23 Sept. 2/5: A noted colored thief and ‘toucher’ [is arrested; he] for a long time has been in the habit, aided by a mulatto girl, of inveigling strangers into their den and robbing them by means of the secret panel. | ||
Hands Up! 66: Women who are known as ‘touchers’ decided upon the style of their new bonnets as soon as the ranchmen hove in sight. |
3. (US) a thief.
N.Y. in Slices 24: A notorious kracksman with his pal — a celebrated ‘toucher.’. | ||
Life In Sing Sing 256: Lush Toucher. A person who robs intoxicated people. | ||
Criminal Sl. (rev. edn) 242: toucher A robber of intoxicated persons. | ||
Scarperer (1966) 75: Bowsies and touchers [...] The cat is what they want. |
4. a cadger, one who solicits small loans.
Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Feb. 12/1: ‘No hurry, old toucher,’ said the applicant affable; ‘only I want to be in this fake. You can just put me through the hank-panky part, and I’ll be anything you like. A sergeant or captain – it’s all the same to me.’. | ||
Dead Bird (Sydney) 22 Feb. 3/2: He was helped to his feet by a man in the street, / Who observed, in a style most polite, / As he shook up the Scotch, and shook out Gussie’s watch, / ‘So long, my old toucher, good night!’. | ||
Mirror of Life 13 Apr. 14/4: The Toucher (with pride): ‘My word is just as good as my note any day.’ The Untouched (grimly): ‘Yes, that's what's the trouble with your notes’. | ||
Fact’ry ’Ands 212: He tred to speak as one with unshaken confidence in the Toucher, but there were subtle doubts hovering at the back of his head. | ||
My Man Jeeves [ebook] I’ve [...] felt the hot breath of the toucher on the back of my neck and heard his sharp, excited yapping as he closed in on me. | ‘Jeeves and the Hard-Boiled Egg’ in||
Carry on, Jeeves 79: I’ve hurried along Piccadilly and felt the hot breath of the toucher on the back of my neck. | ||
Criminal Sl. (rev. edn). | ||
(con. 1890–1910) Hard Life (1962) 111: The streets aren’t crawling with touchers like Dublin. | ||
At Night All Cats Are Grey 66: He kept up this toucher’s litany in his hoarse growling voice till he got the pint in his fist. | ||
Janey Mack, Me Shirt is Black 108: I’ve known many touchers in my day. | ||
Everyday Eng. and Sl. 🌐 Toucher (n): someone who is always looking for a handout. |