† corner-creepern.
Obsolete.
One who creeps in corners; figurative one whose proceedings are underhand and stealthy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > evasive deception, shiftiness > [noun] > one who acts evasively
corner-creeper1563
palterer1589
shuffler1621
prevaricator1650
hedger1728
twister1834
pussyfoot1907
pussyfooter1923
1563 Burnynge Paules Church sig. Bviv Beccause my Lord Bishop, Maister Docter, or such Scauingers, and corner crepers, as this Champion is..deceiue the people with lies priuely in corners.
1589 T. Cooper Admon. People of Eng. 48 But what careth such a corner-creeper what he saith of any man?
1618 E. Elton Complaint Sanctified Sinner v. 93 Simple women, that are carried away as a prey, by hypocriticall and cunning Seducers, Corner-creepers.
a1670 J. Hacket Scrinia Reserata (1693) ii. 149 The tumults of sectaries, corner-creepers, and debauched hang-by's.
1879 M. Arnold Falkland in Mixed Ess. 211 Agents of conversion to the Romish Church, corner-creepers as they were called, penetrated everywhere.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > evasive deception, shiftiness > [adjective]
slipperc1000
hinderc1200
slidderya1250
covert1340
unwrast1393
slyc1440
slippery1555
fetching1570
shifting1581
as slippery as an eel1601
roundabout1608
corner-creeping1610
shuffling1616
prevaricatory1645
prevaricative1657
sliverly1674
whifflinga1680
sneak-pasty1681
slid1719
evasive1725
shauchling1755
shifty1837
slab-bridged1845
sneaky1861
pussy-footed1893
sidewinding1902
slithery1902
pussyfooting1926
1610 Bp. J. Hall Common Apol. against Brownists §57 The corner-creeping Brownists.
1631 P. Heylyn Hist. St. George 181 A slie and corner-creeping kind of people, active in private places.
1638 in Maidment Sc. Pasquils (1868) 40 From corner-creeping parlour preachers..Almighty God deliver us!
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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n.1563