Heading
1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 64, s.v.1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). Fambles. handes.
1662 Fletcher, Beggars Bush, ii., 1. We clapt our fambles.
1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v.
1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxviii. If I had not helped you with these very fambles (holding up her hands).
1819. Moore, Tom Crib's Memorial, p. 28. Allowing for delicate fams, which have merely Been handling the sceptre, and that, too but queerly.
1878. C. Hindley, Life and Times of James Catnach. So kiddy is my FAMBLE.
Verb (old).—To touch; to handle; especially with a view to ascertaining the whereabouts of valuables. Also termed TO FAM FOR THE PLANT, and TO RUN A RULE OVER. TO FAM A donna = to take liberties with a woman; to firky-toodle (q.v.); to CROSS-FAM (q.V.).
Famblers, Fambling-Cheats
(q.v.) or Fam-snatchers (q.v.),
subs. (old).—Gloves.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874), s.v.
Fambling-cheat, Famble, or
Fam. subs. (old).—A ring; also
(about 1694) gloves, which later
still were also called Fam-snatchers
(q.v.). [From Famble,
a hand + A.S. CHETE (q.v.),
a thing.]
1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 64. A fambling chete, a ring on thy hand.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). Fambling Cheates, Rings.
1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, II., in wks. (1720), iv., 47. Look on my finger, sirrah, look here; here's a famble.
1694. Dunton, Ladies' Dict., s.v. Famble-cheats, rings or gloves.
1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Famble cheats, rings or gloves.
1789. Geo. Parker, Life's Painter, p. 180. Fam, A gold ring.
FAM-grasp, verb (old).—To
shake hands. Also substantively,
hand-shaking.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Familiars, subs. (common).—Lice.
For synonyms, see Chates.
Familiar-way, subs. (common).—With
child.
Family Disturbance, subs.
(American).—Whiskey. For
synonyms, see Drinks.
Family-hotel, subs. (old).—A
prison. For synonyms, see Cage.
[Cf., Family-man.]
1857. Punch, 31 Jan. In a ward with one's pals, Not locked up in a cell, To an old hand like me its a fam-ly hotel.
Family-man, subs. (old).—A thief;
specifically, a fence (q.v.). [In
allusion to the fraternities into
which thieves were at one time
invariably banded.]—See Thieves.
1749. Bamfylde Moore-Carew. 'Oath of the Canting Crew.' No dummerar, or romany; No member of the family.
1788. G. A. Stevens, Adv. of a Specialist, i., 221. Let the people say what they will against gamesters, gamblers, Or FAMILY-MEN.
1838. Glascock, Land Sharks and Sea Gulls, II., 100. This house . . . was a favourite resort of the family, or, to speak with less reserve, it was a thieves' house.
1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, [3rd ed.], p. 444. Thieves: Family-men.
Family of Love, subs. phr.
(venery).—A company of prostitutes.
