Canting Dictionary

Dictionary definitions from Nathan Bailey’s Canting Dictionary [thieving slang], 1736:

A Collection of the Canting Words and Terms, both ancient and modern, used by Beggars, Gypsies, Cheats, House-Breakers, Shop-Lifters, Foot-Pads, Highway-Men, &c;

Page images are here; for the text of the dictionary see the transcription page.

Some of the words defined are also used in Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes edited by J. Farmer.

Front Cover, 1737 English Dictionary (includes thieving slang)

Front Cover, 1737 English Dictionary (includes thieving slang)

The front cover is actually detached, and was when the book was so kindly given to me by Hugh Anson-Cartwright.

300x500 30K, 567x944 101K, 756x1258 159K
Title page, 1737 English Dictionary

Title page, 1737 English Dictionary

The Canting Dictionary doesn’t seem to be mentioned on the title page particularly.

302x500 46K, 650x1075 175K, 867x1433 284K
Page image, blockhouses--byblow.

Page image, blockhouses – byblow.

A page image of the double-page spread of definitions from blockhouses to byblow. [more...]

500x426 73K, 764x651 173K, 1019x868 449K


$Id: mkgallery,v 1.65 2009/10/10 03:35:35 lee Exp lee $

Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!