1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. Night-magistrate.
1785. Grose, Vul. Tongue, s.v. Nightman, one whose business it is to empty necessary houses in London, which is always done in the night, the operation is called a wedding. Ibid. Night-magistrate.
1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, i. The night-houses are closed.
To make a night of it. verb. phr. (common).—To spend the night in drinking, whoring, gaming, etc.
Night-and-day, subs. phr. (rhyming).—The
play.
Night-bird (-cap, -hawk, -hunter,
-poacher, -snap, -trader,
or -walker), subs. (old).—1. A
thief working by night.—B. E.
(c. 1696); New Cant. Dict.
(1725).
1544. Ascham, Toxophilus. Men that hunt so be privy stealers, or night walkers.
1620. Beaumont and Fletcher, Chances, ii. 1. Sure these fellows Were night snaps. Ibid. The Night walker, or the Little Thief [Title].
1623. Webster, Duchess of Malfi, ii., 1. If you hear the common people curse you, be sure you are taken for one of the prime night-caps.
1637. Massinger, Guardian, v., 2. Ador. You have been, Before your lady gave you entertainment, A night-walker in the streets. Mirt. How, my good lord! Ador. Traded in picking pockets.
c.1819. Old Song [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 83]. A night bird oft I'm in the cage.
2. (old).—A harlot. Also night-piece (or -shade): see Night.—B. E. (c. 1696); New Cant. Dict. (1725).
1612. Beaumont and Fletcher, Coxcomb, ii., 2. Here comes a night-shade.
1630. Massinger, Picture, i., 2. All kinds of females, from the night-trader, in the street.
c.1707. Durfey, Pills to Purge, iii., 99. Now Miss turn night-walker.
3. (common).—A bully; a street brawler. Also (in bands), night-jury.
1664. Etherege, Comical Revenge, iv., 2. Grace. Do you take me for a night-walker, Sir?
1693. Congreve, Old Batchelor, i, 5. The knight was alone, and had fallen into the hands of some night-walkers, who, I suppose, would have pillaged him.
1708. Hatton, New View of London [quoted in Ashton's Soc. Life in Reign of Q. Anne], vii., 238. Loose and disorderly Servants, Night-walkers, Strumpets, etc.
4. (old).—A bellman; a watchman.—B. E. (c. 1696); New Cant. Dict. (1725).
Night-cap, subs. (common).—1.
The last drink; a dodger (q.v.).
1840. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 3rd S., xi. Suppose we have brandy cocktail, it's as 'bout as good a night-cap as I know on.
1843. Moncrieff, The Scamps of London, i., 2. You've had your night-cap, a little daffy.
1843. Handley Cross, xxiv. Mr. Jorrocks celebrated the event with . . . a night-cap of the usual beverage.
1883. Greenwood, 'Seaside Insanity' in Odd People in Odd Places, p. 51. Who would begrudge them their pilfered repast, or the stiff glass of gin or brandy and water on which their parents and the maid-of-all-work regale after supper, and by way of a nightcap.
2. (old).—The cap pulled over the face before execution. See Horse's night-cap.
1681. Dialogue on Oxford Parliamemt [Harl. MSS., ii., 125]. He better deserves to go up Holbowrn in a wooden chariot and have a horse night-cap put on at the further end.
