thiggern.

Brit.

/ˈθɪɡə/, U.S.

/ˈθɪɡər/, Scottish English

/ˈθɪɡər/

Etymology: < thig v. + -er suffix¹.

Scottish.

One who thigs; a beggar, a cadger; an exactor of contributions; one who plants himself on others for assistance; ‘one who draws on others for subsistence in a genteel sort of way’ (Jamieson); a gaberlunzie or licensed beggar who went his regular rounds, and received a night's lodging and food at particular houses; also, any one who begged or solicited presents on certain recognized occasions, e.g. wedding-presents.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > poverty > mendicancy > [noun] > beggar

beggara1250

bidder1362

mendinantc1395

mendivaunt1395

craver1406

thigger1424

gangrela1450

mendicant1474

mendiant1483

eremite1495

Lazarus?a1513

truandals1523

bellyterc1540

clapperdudgeon1567

beggar-man1608

maunder1609

maunderer1611

Abraham cove1612

eleemosynary1643

mumpera1652

jockey1685

progger1685

asker1708

thigster1710

prog1828

shooler1830

cadger1851

panhandler1893

Weary Willie1896

schlepper1901

plinger1904

peg-legger1915

tapper1930

clochard1940

1424 Sc. Acts Jas. I (1879) II. 8 Þat na thiggar be thollyt to thyg noþer in burghe nor to land.

a1733 Shetland Acts 4 in Proc. Soc. Antiquaries Scotl. 1891–2 (1892) 26 196 That all thiggers of wool, corn, fish and others be apprehended wherever they come.

1821 W. Scott Pirate I. v. 110 Ye wad not have me waste our substance on every thigger or sorner that has the luck to come by the door in a wet day?

1824 J. Mactaggart Sc. Gallovidian Encycl. Thiggers..are those who beg in a genteel way; who have their houses they call at in certain seasons, and get corn, and other little things.

1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth ix, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 243 Such exaction, which more resembles the masterful license of Highland thiggers and sorners.

Derivatives

ˈthigster n. [-ster suffix] in same sense.

ΘΚΠ