> as lemmas

1575 T. Churchyard 1st Pt. Chippes vii. f. 59 ^v A littell breath I toek than after this And shaept my self, about the Court to be.

1592 T. Nashe Pierce Penilesse (Brit. Libr. copy) sig. C3 ^v If hee haue playde the waste-good at the Innes of the Court or about London.

1593 T. Nashe Strange Newes 83 Since I first knew him about town.

1604 T. Middleton Ant & Nightingale sig. E4 Trulls passing too and fro in the wash-shape of Laundresses, as your Bawdes about London in the manner of Starch-women.

1665 S. Pepys Diary 23 July (1971) VI. 167 If he knew his son to be a debauch, as many and most are nowadayes about the Court, he would tell it.

1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 187. ⁋2 I know not whether you have ever heard of the famous girl about Town called Kitty.

1791 ‘G. Gambado’ Ann. Horsemanship xv. 60 A young Cockader, about town.

1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) x. 83 A perfect and celebrated ‘blood’, or dandy about town.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 153 Some Roman Catholics about the court had, indiscreetly or artfully, told all.

1873 A. Trollope Eustace Diamonds I. ix. 119 I believe she is the greatest liar about London.

1947 P. G. Wodehouse Full Moon i. 14 The latter's sister..considered that beau sabreur and man about town a blot on the escutcheon of a proud family.

2002 Diva Mar. 51/1 Whether she can keep her hands and eyes off some delectable diva about town.