† scaffern.
Scottish. Obsolete.
A parasite, sponger; an extortioner.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > extortion > [noun] > one who
wringera1300
askera1325
extortionerc1375
exactor1382
scaffer?a1513
shaver1534
caterpillar1541
bloodsucker?1555
suck-purse1586
griper1587
extortor1590
exacter1596
extorter1605
barathrum1609
wreather1648
shark1713
vampire1741
bleeder1846
flayer1865
extortionist1885
Shylock1894
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 223 Scaffaris and scamleris in the nuke.
c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Hyst. & Cron. Scotl. ix. xviii. f. 123v/1 Iuglaris, menstralis bardis, scaffaris [L. Mimos, histriones, bardos, parasitos].
1598 Aberd. Reg. (1848) II. 167 A multitude of..skafferis of the wymbes of the puir.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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n.?a1513