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Green’s Dictionary of Slang

sporter n.

1. a womanizer, a promiscuous man.

1531		J. Bellenden Boece I 184: Fydlaris, rutouris, huremasteris, & sportouris.
1556		B. della Rocca Cocles [trans.] The whole art of phisiognomie n.p.: Rasys also sayeth, that the fete smal, and bewtifull, declare that man to be a fornicator, and sporter and maker of myrth.
1593		Passionate Morrice (1876) 95: Now, fie of all the Beadles of Bridewell, if they spare such a sporter comming vnder their correction.
1659		G. Fox A vvord to the people of the world 1: [W]anton one, lustful one, covetous one (who art an Idolater) and backbiter, and whoremonger, and gamer, and sporter.
1673		R. Baxter A Christian directory 465: [A]n idle Time-wasting sensual sporter [...] a miserable wretch.
1685		E. Phillips The arts of wooing and complementing 89: There was a Gallant in the Town, / a brave and jolly Sporter, / There was no Lady in the Land, / but he knew how to court her.

2. a mocker, one who derides.

1598		Florio A vvorlde of wordes n.p.: Giocatore [...] a sporter, a iester.
1600		J. Howesoun The first epistle of S. Iohn n.p.: A certaine Skoffer and filthie gester [...] was in a Tauerne [...] and there to play thee sporter, did mock the immortalitie of the soule.
1611		The treasure of tranquillity 131: [Y]ee will endure well enough what a Iester or sporter will say vnto you, be it neuer so vnpleasant.
1621		The flyting betwixt Montgomery and Polvvart n.p.: Thy speach but purpose, sporter is espyed.

3. (US) a man about town, a gambler.

1598		Florio A vvorlde of wordes n.p.: Giocatore a player, a gamester, a sporter.
1655		J. Davis Heaven & earth shaken 150: [H]e is scarce a good subject reputed, that is not a good dancer and sporter then.
1681		W. Vilant The history of the indulgence 442: So from this cast of his sporting craft I perceive he would have proved but a spur-galled sporter.
1854		Life in Boston & N.Y. (Boston, MA) 13 May n.p.: [They] are sporters of the first magnitude. We cannot see how he can pay for champagne two or three times a week [...] on five dollars a week.
1855		Broadway Belle (NY) 29 Jan. n.p.: The sporters all do buy it / Just to read the fancy news.
1861		N.E. Police Gaz. (Boston, MA) 12 Oct. 5/4: Can some cheap sporter inform us whether Frank Porter receives her grass widow’s allowance since Jack went to the war?