nabman

plural nabmen

1. archaicslangA constable or bailiff; a law enforcement officer who apprehends criminals.

   Old Donton has sent the nabman after him at last.

   1816, Daniel Terry, Guy Mannering, ii.

   4 more examples

   As Nabman Dick was looking o'er a string Of body writs, and forms of fieri facias, With eye of hawk, so sharp and wary, He notic'd Fr—d, Though not in red, Stop at the house of Mrs. C-—y;

   1825, The Spirit of the Public Journals for the Year M.DCCC.XXIII

   But debts, though borish, must be paid, And bailiffs a'n't bamm'd for many hours. Ah ! that the nabman's evil eyes Should ever come hither Such cheeks to wither !

   1885, William Maginn, R. W. Montagu, Miscellanies: Prose and Verse - Volume 2, page 337

   His R–H must take good care, or that bit of blood will be seized while standing at the door of the Circe, as his carriage was the other day, by the unceremonious nabman.

   1905, Henry Thomas Alken, Real Life in London, Or, The Rambles and Adventures of Bob Tallyho, Esq. and his Cousin, the Hon. Tom Daschall, Through the Metropolis, page 546

   With one man always ashore on a month's relief, the select little company of four Nabmen are the chosen few of all Trinity House lightkeepers.

   1954, Britain To-day - Issues 213-224, page 146