1852 Racing Times 19 Oct. 331/3 One of the above fraternity [sc. betting impostors] was observed following his calling, by a former victim... The ‘Welsher’ sneaked off to another corner of the field.

1860 W. P. Lennox Pict. Sporting Life I. 119 A gang of miscreants called Welchers, who make bets with the unwary, which they never dream of paying if they lose.

1868 E. Yates Rock Ahead III. iii. v. 192 I know him; a defaulting ring-man, a mere common 'welsher'.

1912 Times 24 Apr. 3/4 Counsel said..the real definite charge was that the plaintiff was a welsher.

1948 G. Frost Flying Squad xvi. 177 If a stolen dog is suspected of having been raced at the far end of the country, or if a description of some whizzers or welshers is circulated, action can be taken at each track.

2001 Observer 22 July (Sport section) 13 By strengthening the requirements for bookmakers' licences, the welsher who disappears without trace would become an increasing rarity.

1863 M. E. Braddon Aurora Floyd xvii. 69/2 He was..a ‘welsher’ in the matter of marbles and hardbake before his fifth birthday.

1904 D. B. W. Sladen Playing the Game ii. iii The Japanese traders who dealt with them were, many of them, welshers who looked to repudiations for their profits.

1948 R. Stout And be Villain xx. 167 I'm no welcher! I'll pay your expenses just like I'm paying this!

1964 F. J. Cook FBI Nobody Knows x. 308 The man hadn't paid him the rent for the apartment as he had promised; Hiss had decided he was a welsher.

2004 Calgary (Alberta) Herald (Nexis) 21 Apr. a6 I'm not a welcher at all... I'll be very pleased to make sure I deliver the wine.

1857 G. Borrow in Y Cymmrodor (1910) 22 168 The Welshers, the little village—all looking down on the valley appropriately called Y Cwm.

1862 G. Borrow Wild Wales I. v. 47 They are small men mostly, Measter, them Welshers.