| 释义 |
ˈscowbanker slang (? and dial.).
Also 8 scou-, -bancker, 9 skow-, skull-.
[Of obscure origin. Adm. Smyth (Sailor's Word-bk., 1867) gives a word scow-banker with the explanation ‘a manager of a scow’; but this is prob. a mistake.]
A loafer (see quots.). Also, † one who engages in unfair business practices, a dishonest or unscrupulous trader.
1750G. Beekman Let. 4 Dec. in P. H. White Beekman Mercantile Papers 1746–1799 (1956) I. 136 You may thank a Sett of People Called Scowbanckers..that Seed has Run so high this two years past. Our town is full of them and there is Scarce a Vessell Comes along the wharffe but there is Imediately a half a Dozen of Them aboard bidding against Each other. 1764― Let. 30 Nov. in Ibid. 478 Our Vandue houses are Crowded with Linens for Sale belonging to the Scoubankers who are Offering of it from house to house for Less then Prime Cost which hurts the merchant much. 1864Hotten's Slang Dict. 233 Skow-Banker, a fellow who loiters about the premises of any one willing to support him without the necessity of working for his living; a rogue, a rascal. Common at Melbourne, Australia. 1866A. Michie Retrospects & Prospects 9 (Morris) A skull-banker is a species of the genus loafer... He is a haunter of stations, and lives on the squatters,..affecting to seek work and determining not to find it. 1898E. E. Morris Austral English, Skull⁓banker, or Scowbanker, a slang name in Australia for a loafer, a tramp.
Hence ˈscowbank v. intr., to loaf; also n. = scowbanker. ˈscowbanking ppl. a.
1868B. Brierley Fratchingtons iii. 40 If skeawbankin' fro aleheause to aleheause isno' drinkin', what is? 1881Clark Russell Sailor's Sweeth. I. ii. 44 A sprinkling of black-browed scowbanks from Mediterranean ports. 1888Sheffield Gloss. Suppl., He's a scow-banking sort of fellow! 1901F. E. Taylor Folk Sp. S. Lanc. (E.D.D.), He does nowt bu' skeaw-bank abeawt o day. |