Green’s Dictionary of Slang

the act of moving; usu. in phrs. dig a duster, collar/knock a duster.

1879		Illus. Sporting & Dramatic News 5 Apr. 18/3: They’re off There they go a gay silken-clad cluster, / [...] /And Simon Pure's making the pace a rare duster .
1941		D. Burley N.Y. Amsterdam News 8 Feb. 20: I latched onto that fine ink in the snitchbook the other bright.
1944		D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 36: The Cat had dug a duster, like a Coney Island slide. [Ibid.] 65: She collars a duster down the midway and cops a stop in front of one of them pads with the slammer half split.