Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a share of criminal booty; thus go regulars, to share profits; cite 1845 refers to a bribe.

1811		Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: Regulars. Share of the booty. The coves cracked the swell’s crib, fenced the swag, and each cracksman napped his regular; some fellows broke open a gentleman’s house, and after selling the property which they had stolen, they divided the money between them.
1821		D. Haggart Autobiog. 36: If they did not ease him of all by the cards, I would come in for my regulars with my forks.
1828		G. Smeeton Doings in London 40: The landlord and other men, who are privy to the robbery [...] always come in for the ‘regulars’ (their share of the plunder).
1831		‘Gallery of 140 Comicalities’ Bell’s Life in London 24 June 2/2: I know vots vot, and I’m snigger’d if I don’t come the ‘chirp’ – I harn’t had my ‘regglers’ for the last two ‘cracks,’ and hates vots dishonourable.
1845		Bell’s Life in Sydney 27 Dec. 2/5: Jenkins [had] the temerity to offer Ward 4s, or, in other words, ‘his regulars,’ as ‘hush money’.
1848		G.W.M. Reynolds Mysteries of London II (2nd series) 259: By declaring on to the swag, I may get my reglars from the two prigs.
1855		Bell’s Life in Sydney 12 May 3/3: ‘Nab him! nab him!’ quoth Mr R.; ‘why, such slang is shocking! (sensation in court.) Out of the jug! oh horrible! Going snacks or regulars! monstrous! Working the pig! (here the learned gentleman fainted).
1859		G.A. Sala Gaslight and Daylight 87: Noggins of Geneva without number [...] are discussed to bind bargains, or ‘wet’ bargains, or as portions of the ‘regulars,’ to which the agents or their assigns are entitled.
1865		Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 30/1: By heavens, what a ‘kick’ full of ‘sugar’ she must carry, eh? How much will you take for your ‘regs’ (share) before it’s turned out? [Ibid.] 31/1: Who do you think has ‘sunk your regulars?’.
1865		R.S. Surtees Facey Romford’s Hounds 362: Coper then docked off his ‘regulars’; Hazey took his.
1871		Morning Advertiser 11 May n.p.: He knew who had committed the robbery, and as they had not paid him £20 as his regulars he should round on them [F&H].
1882		Sydney Sl. Dict. 10/1: Jack buzzed a bloak and a shickster of a reader and a skin. A cross-cove, who had his regulars for stalling, cried ‘Cop bung,’ as a pig was marking. Jack speeled to the crib. Jack picked the pockets of a gentleman and a lady of a pocket-book and a purse. A fellow-thief, who had his share of the plunder for watching, cried ‘Hand over the property,’ as someone was observing. Jack ran away home.
1891		F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 414: He ’cused me o’ playin’ Ananias and Sapphira – pinchin’ the reg’lars as we call it.
1895		C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 66: Regulars, a thief’s fair share of the plunder.
1902		A. Morrison Hole in the Wall (1947) 31: I want my reg’lars out o’ that lot.
1908		Journal (Denton MD) 7 Mar. 3/6: I knew enough of thieves’ slang to know [...] that ‘regulars’ was the term used for a payment to a brother thief who gave assistance in some small way.