1819. J. H. Vaux, Memoirs of Convict Life in Australia. Buz-cove or buz-gloak, a pickpocket; a person who is clever at this practice is said to be a 'good buz.'
1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v.
Until at last there was none so knowing, No such sneaksman or buz-gloak going.
1856. H. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, p. 46. Those who plunder by stealth, as . . . 'buzzers,' who pick gentlemen's pockets.
1859. Sala, Twice Round the Clock, 3 p.m., par. 10. Where these ruffiani, these copper captains and cozening buz-gloaks, are to be found during the day, or even up to midnight . . . must remain a secret.
1862. Mayhew, Crim. Prisons, 46. Buzzers who pick gentlemen's pockets, and 'wires' who pick ladies' pockets.
1867. Galaxy, p. 634. While the [New York] police had no right to arrest pickpockets unless they caught them committing a theft, yet as they had the power to do so, they exercised it, and many were the car-buzzers they led captives to police headquarters.
Buz-Napper's Academy, subs. (old).—A school in which young thieves were trained. Figures were dressed up, and experienced tutors stood in various difficult attitudes for the boys to practise upon. When clever enough they were sent on the streets. Dickens gives full particulars of this old style of 'business' in Oliver Twist.
1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 173. [A Buz-napper's Academy is named and described in this work.]
Buz-Napper's Kinchin, subs. (old).—A watchman. Synonymous terms in the sense of police will be found under beak (q.v.).
Buzzer.—See Buz-napper.
Buzzing or Buz-Faking, subs. (thieves').—Pocket-picking. Cf., Buz, verb, sense 2.
By-Blow, subs. (old).—An illegitimate child. [An allusion to the unacknowledged status of the mother, and the 'accident' of the birth of such children.] Also called by-chop and by-slip.
1594. Barnfield, Affectionate Shepherd. In such a ladies lappe, at such a slipperie by-blow, That in a world so wide could not be found such a wilie Lad; in an age so old, could not be found such an old lad.
1625. Massinger, Parl. of Love, II., i. Give to each by-blow, I know mine, a farm.
1678. C. Cotton, Scarronides, bk. I., p. 21 (ed. 1725).
Now Venus was Æneas Mother, In the behalf then of her by-blow, Which had endured many a dry-Blow, She weeping came, sighing and throbbing.
1705-7. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. II., pt. II., p. 19.
The poor Man's House abound with Brats, As country Barn with Mice and Rats; And Parishes be fill'd with by-blows As thick as Butchers' Stalls with Fly-blows.
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). By-blow (s.), a bastard or illegitimate child.
1868. Browning, Ring and Bk., iv., 612. A drab's brat, A beggar's bye-blow.
1875. Ouida, Signa, vol. I., ch. iii., p. 34. The one who held the child turned his light on the little wet face; . . . 'And whose by-blow is this?' said he. 'The devil knows,' said he who knelt by the mother. 'But it is Pippa.'
By-Chop.—See By-blow.
1632. Jonson, Magnetic Lady, iv., 2.
First I have sent By-chop away; the cause gone, the fame ceaseth.
