Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (UK Und.) (of either sex) to live promiscuously.

c.1580		‘I.T.’ Grim The Collier of Croydon IV i: Whilst I go range amongst the Country maids.
c.1599		Look About You xxviii: Men may be wanton, women must not range.
1608		Middleton of York Epigrams 35: Thy voice [...] is changing, By haunting females, and by often ranging Into their forests.
c.1640		‘Discontented Married Man’ in Chappell Roxburghe Ballads (1871) I 97: Wanton wenches will be ranging.
1671		‘A Song at the Kings House’ in Ebsworth Westminster Drolleries (1875) 47: I have spent all my days In ranging the Park, th’ Exchange, & the Plays, yet ne’r in my Ramble till now did I [...] meet with the man I could love.
1680		Dryden Spanish Fryar Act I: I have been ranging over half the Town; but have sprung no Game.
1699		N. Ward ‘The Insinuating Bawd’ Writings (1704) 86: And if your weary Confident should range, / The Bonds are Void, and you your self may change.
c.1707		‘The Long Vacation’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) IV 138: When Sodomites were so impudent, / To ply on the Exchange, / And by Day-light the Piazza’s / Of Covent-Garden to range.
1719		in D’Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy I 250: I Rov’d and Rang’d, despis’d all Rule.
1725		New Canting Dict. n.p.: Ranging, c. intriguing and enioying many Women.
1737, 1759, 1760, 1776		Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. 1725].
1859		Matsell Vocabulum.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1873		Sl. Dict.

2. to live or work as a prostitute.

1685–88

‘The Wonder of Wonders’ in Ebsworth Roxburghe Ballads (1891) VII:2 477: She ranges the streets very late, her valour and courage is such, / She fears not a knock on the pate.