dry shave, v.¹ — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

dry shave v.¹

[? idea of being ‘cheated’ of the water required for a proper shave]

to deceive, to defraud, to rob.

1605		Marston Dutch Curtezan III iv: He was dry shaved this morning.
1611		Davies of Hereford Scourge of Folly 3: In State-craft he was still his betters brauing, Till Kate with her craft gaue him a dry-shauing.
1821		Eve. Post (NY) 10 Dec. 2/2: But the Bucktails a Barber have put in his place, / To dry-shave us all.
1923		J. Manchon Le Slang.