porter-without-froth, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

porter-without-froth n.

[SE porter, a dark beer, so called from its being preferred by market porters. Porter, e.g. Guinness, should have a head or ‘froth’ if poured properly]

(W.I.) a layabout, a ne’er-do-well.

1958

cited in Cassidy & LePage Dict. Jam. Eng. (1980).