dimber damber

plural dimber dambers · alternative dimber-damber · alternative Dimber Damber · alternative Dimber-Damber

1. UKobsoletethieves' cantThe leader of a group of thieves or vagrants.

   Smasher has the ear of every dimber damber in the city.

   1992, Suzannah Davis, Dance of Deception, →ISBN, page 140

   2 more examples

   First, a new name is given him, by which he is ever after to be called; then, standing up in the middle of the assembly, and directing his face to the dimber damber, or principal man of the gang, he repeats the following oath, which is dictated to him by some experienced member of the fraternity.

   1812, Robert Goadby, The Surprising Adventures of Bampfylde Moore Carew, new edition, original published 1745, W. Salter Tiverton, page 280

   Dick Turpin must be one of us. He shall be our dimber damber.

   1837, William Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood, page 208

   Synonyms: criminal leader

plural Dimber Dambers

1. alternativeAlternative form of dimber damber.

   Sung on the electing of a new Dimber Damber, or King of the Gypsies,

   1914, Gypsy Lore Society, Monographs - Volume 1, page 111

   3 more examples

   "No, no refusal," exclaimed a chorus of voices. "Dick Turpin must be one of us. He shall be our Dimber Damber."

   1834, William Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood, volume 2, page 333

   By the Rom-pad maundred none In quarrons both for stamp and bone, Like my Clapperdogeon! Dimber Damber fare thee well, Pallyards all thou didst excel;

   1849, The New Monthly Magazine - Volume 85, page 414

   Everything that passed through the Bear and Dog, the Dimber Damber took a tax from– from jewel theft, from the income of the whores of the so-called pushing academies, from the haul of pickpockets and tricksters.

   2013, Thomas Keneally, The Playmaker, →ISBN