Green’s Dictionary of Slang

peterman n.

[SE peterman, a fisherman, ult. after the apostle Simon Peter, a fisherman]

one who poaches fish from the River Thames.

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J. Howell Londinopolis 14: There are a great number of other kind of fishermen – belonging to the Thames, called Hebber-men, Petermen, and Trawlermen [F&H].