Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a pimp.

1984

Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 101/1: bludgeoner. A harlot’s bully [...] c. (–1852).

2. a tough man employed to keep order at a brothel.

1865

Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 101/2: Conspicuous among them was Kenny Malone, a Liverpool ‘buffer’ and ‘bludgeoner,’ whom Joe knew.

3. (US Und.) the man who plays the ‘outraged husband’ in the badger game under badger n.¹

1949

Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).