Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(UK Und.) a retired villain.

c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Antiquated-Rogue. Old, out of date, that has forgot or left off his Trade of Thieving.
1719		A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 201: Antiquated Rogue, one that has forgot or left off his Trade thro’ Age.
1725		New Canting Dict. n.p.: A Rogue who is Old or out of Date; who has forgotten or left off his Trade of Thieving, is said, in a Canting Sense, To be Antiquated.
1737, 1759, 1760, 1776		Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict.