| 释义 |
pedlar, peddler, n.|ˈpɛdlə(r)|
Forms: 4–5 pedlere, 5 pedlare, 5–6 pedeler, 6 peddelar, 7– (9– chiefly U.S.) peddler, 6– pedler, pedlar.
[Origin obscure.
The 14th c. pedlere has the form of an agent-noun, but occurs long before there is any trace of the vb. pedle, peddle, in any sense, from which therefore it cannot be assumed to be derived. It is app. synonymous with pedder, and may possibly have been a modification of that word (cf. Scotch tinkler for tinker), or formed on the same basis ped. But the Promptorium (c 1440) has both pedder and pedlere with distinct explanations, and without any reference to each other.
The spelling peddler is usual in the U.S., and is occas. found in the U.K., esp. in sense 1 d.]
1. One who goes about carrying small goods for sale (usually in a bundle or pack); a travelling chapman or vendor of small wares. (Now technically distinguished from hawker, q.v.)
1377Langl. P. Pl. B. v. 258, I haue as moche pité of pore men as pedlere hath of cattes, Þat wolde kille hem, yf he cacche hem myȝte, for coueitise of here skynnes. c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 30 Now coorbed is thi bakke; Or sone shal bene as pedeler to his pakke. 1579Spenser Sheph. Cal. May 238 All as a poore pedler he did wend, Bearing a trusse of tryfles at hys backe. 1660Milton Griffith's Serm. Wks. 1851 V. 390 Not unlike the Fox, that turning Pedlar, open'd his pack of War before the Kid. 1838, etc. [see essence-peddler s.v. essence n. 11]. 1860Smiles Self-Help ii. 40 Articles of earthenware..were..hawked about by..pedlers, who carried their stocks upon their backs.
b. fig. One who ‘deals in’ something in a small way, a ‘retailer’.
1681Glanvill Sadducismus ii. (1726) 454 My Zeal against those Pedlers of Wit. 1870Lowell Study Wind. 152 The pedlers of rumor in the North.
c. A female pedlar, a pedlaress.
1705Vanbrugh Confederacy i. ii, The rogue had a kettle⁓drum to his father,..and has a pedlar to his mother.
d. One who peddles goods in some way illicitly, as stolen goods, forged notes, illegal drugs, etc. orig. U.S.
1872G. P. Burnham Mem. U.S. Secret Service p. vii, Peddler, an itinerant counterfeit money-seller. 1929M. A. Gill Underworld Slang, Peddlers, drug bootleggers. 1930[see drug-peddler s.v. drug n.1 1 b]. 1935Jrnl. Abnormal Psychol. XXX. 363 Peddler, an inmate who steals and sells state property. 1935N. Ersine Underworld & Prison Slang 57 Pint peddler, a petty bootlegger who carries a number of pints of liquor about his person. He usually hangs around poolrooms. 1949, etc. [see influence-peddler s.v. influence n. 8]. a1953E. O'Neill Hughie (1959) 27 Take my tip, pal, and don't never try to buy from a dope peddler. 1953W. Burroughs Junkie (1972) ii. 29 In fact, a peddler should not come right out and say he is a peddler... Everyone knows that he himself is the connection, but it is bad form to say so. Ibid. iv. 41 A peddler..was pushing Mexican H on 103rd and Broadway. 1978T. Williamson Technicians of Death vi. 44 They're ready to deal in junk [sc. drugs]... Fringe groups..will start feeding the peddlers. 1978Guardian 25 Aug. 11/6 The officials even wanted me to identify the street peddler from whom I bought a copy of the English book.
2. A contemptuous designation [app. f. peddle v.] for: One who peddles, or works in a petty, incompetent, or ineffective way.
a1585Polwart Flyting w. Montgomery 153 Pedler, I pittie thee sa pinde. 1825Cobbett Rur. Rides (1885) II. 41 The poor deluded creature..who knew nothing..about such matters..was a perfect pedlar in political economy.
3. attrib. and Comb.
a1553Edw. VI in Burnet Hist. Ref. (1681) II. Collect. Rec. 71 The Farmer..will be a Pedlar-Merchant. 1592tr. Junius on Rev. xiii. 16 Pedlerlike abuse of indulgences. 1598E. Guilpin Skial. (1878) 4 To reade these pedler rimes. 1776Adam Smith W.N. iii. iv. (1869) I. 418 In pursuit of their own pedlar principle of turning a penny wherever a penny was to be got. 1842Thackeray Sultan Stork Wks. 1900 V. 739 An old pedlar-woman, who was displaying her wares.
4. Combinations with pedlar's.
a. pedlar's basket: a local name for the Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Linaria Cymbalaria; also for Saxifraga sarmentosa (Britten & H.); pedlar's pad: see quot.
1828Craven Gloss. (ed. 2), Pedlar's Basket, Ivy leaved snap-dragon... Pedlar's-Pad, a walking stick.
b. pedlar's French: the language used by vagabonds and thieves among themselves; rogues' or thieves' cant; hence, unintelligible jargon, gibberish. (In quot. 1610 transf. A rogue, vagabond.)
1530Palsgr. 727/1 They speke a pedlars frenche amongest them selfe. 1567Harman Caveat 23 Their languag—which they terme peddelars Frenche or Canting. 1610Histriomastix iv. i, When euery Pedlers-French is term'd Monsignuer. a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Pedlar's-French, a sort of Gibrish..used by Gypsies, &c. Also the Beggers Cant. 1887Hall Caine Deemster xxxii, Kidnapped? No such matter... What pedlar's French!
Hence † ˈpedlar v. trans., to make a pedlar of; intr. to act as a pedlar; ˈpedlaress, a female pedlar; ˈpedlaring, ˈpedlarism, the occupation of a pedlar, itinerant retail trade, petty dealing; ˈpedlarly a., belonging to or befitting a pedlar.
1661I. B. in A. Brome's Songs etc. 176 Why *pedler'st thus thy Muse? Why dost set o'pe A shop of wit, to set the fidlers up?
a1613Overbury A Wife (1638) 128 Some foule sunne-burnt Queane that, since the terrible statute, recanted Gypsisme, and is turned *Pedleresse.
1862Athenæum 30 Aug. 266 *Pedlaring did not continue to be a pretty thing. 1892W. W. Peyton Memorab. Jesus i. 22 This is historical pedantry and critical pedlaring.
1699T. Brown in Fam. & Courtly Lett. (1700) 182 If they are not at last reduc'd to their old ancient *Pedlarism.
1617Collins Def. Bp. Ely i. iv. 182 You long to be vntrussing your *pedlerly fardles. |