> as lemmas

1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure II. 9 The giddy, wildness of young girls once got upon the loose.

1849 J. Hannay King Dobbs v. 76 One evening, when they were at Gibraltar, on the look-out for amusement—in modern parlance, ‘on the loose’,—they went into a little wine-shop [etc.].

1859 Punch 9 July 22/1 Our friend prone to vices you never may see, Though he goes on the Loose, or the Cut, or the Spree.

1859 J. C. Hotten Dict. Slang 70 On the loose, obtaining a living by prostitution, in reality, on the streets. The term is applied to females only.

1872 Punch 20 July 23/1 Having to appear at the police court in order to give evidence for one of your fast friends who has been out upon the loose.

1879 Roget's Thesaurus 330 Impure; unclean &c...; on the streets, on the pavé, on the loose.

1890 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang II. Loose, on the,..getting a living by prostitution.

1914 G. B. Shaw Fanny's Last Play iii, in Misalliance 201 Do you mean to say that you went on the loose out of pure devilment?

1935 N. Ersine Underworld & Prison Slang 51 Ted is on the loose.

1949 E. Partridge Dict. Underworld 483/2 On the loose, obtaining a living by prostitution.

1951 E. Paul Springtime in Paris (U.K. ed.) i. 12 Just then Raoul was spending all his free time with the peace posters and Katya stayed at home. When the roles were reversed, and Katya was on the loose, no one knew precisely what she was about.

1958 Times Lit. Suppl. 30 May 293/2 A group of young Americans.., some being genuinely on the loose or moving from job to job.

1970 V. Canning Great Affair xvii. 319 There was a little mistiming at Sokota so your friend King Alfy is on the loose.