nobbler

plural nobblers

1. A person who interferes with a racehorse or greyhound in order to prevent it from winning a race.
2. AustraliaobsoleteA serving of beer or spirits.

   1895, Guy Boothby, A Bid for Fortune, ReadHowYouWant, 2008 EasyRead Comfort Edition, page 266, ‘A nobbler o′ rum,’ says I. Then he orders a nobbler of rum for me and a nobbler of whisky for ′imself.

   4 more examples

   Carl Wiesenhavern, a man of noble character, and, therefore a man who hates knavery, and has no fear of a knave, answered with his peculiar German coolness, "Here I am, what do you want?" "Nobblers round," was the eager reply. "If that's what you want," replied Wiesenhavern, "you shall have it with pleasure." "We got no money." "I did not ask for any: understand me well, though;" pointing at each of them with the forefinger of his clenched right hand, "you will have a nobbler a-piece, and no more: afterwards you will go your way. Are you satisfied with my conditions?"

   1855, Raffaello Carboni, The Eureka Stockade, Gutenberg eBook #3546

   1874, [John Brady], The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser (Heathcote, Vic. : 1863 - 1918) Thursday 24 December 1874 Coroner's Inquest http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/89693062#pstart8412354 - 12-year-old witness to road accident death of his father, ‘My father only had two nobblers at Dwyer's place that morning.’

   ‘Fer goodness′ sake, Doreen! Give the gent a nobbler of brandy and stop making trouble.’ It′s the little weasel bloke what speaks. ‘Much obliged,’ I says to him. ‘Nobbler, is it?’ Doreen turns on her heel and she′s about to vanish into the main bar when I shouts after her, ‘Nobbler of Cape, miss!’

   1998, Bryce Courtenay, Tommo and Hawk, published 2006, unnumbered page

   This done, he waves his hat and declares his nag can lick anything on the ground—for nobblers round.

   2010, Gerard Benjamin, Gloria Grant, editors, Tom Hurstbourne or A Squatter′s Life, page 81

3. UKobsoleteA thimbleman's or cardsharp's accomplice or shill, who poses as a player of the game to suggest that it is easy to win.