the Pipe and Tabor compendium

the Pipe and Tabor compendium

essays on the three-hole pipe

UK terminology
'dub' - not a drum

dictionary definitions

1721 Nathan Bailey, an educated man who had a school in London, wrote a dictionary which included:

Dub - a pick- lock   Key.
Dub the Gigger - open the Door.  
We'll  strike
it upon the dub - We will rob that Place.
Dubber - a Picker of Locks.

[Nathan Bailey's 1721Canting Dictionary / DUBBER - rogue]

1811 Francis Gros:

Dub - A picklock, or master-key. Cant
Dub Lay - Robbing houses by picking the locks
Dubber - A picker of locks. Cant
Going upon the dub - going out to break open, or pick the locks of, houses
now let's gig the dub of the case - now the coast is clear let us break open the door of the house
Rum or gilt dubber - An expert picklock. A thief who picks locks, so called from the gilt or picklock key: many of them are so expert, that, from the lock of a church door to that of the smallest cabinet, they will find means to open it; these go into reputable public houses, where, pretending business, they contrive to get into private rooms, up stairs, where they open any bureaus or trunks they happen to find there.

[' The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue - a dictionary of buckish slang,university wit, and pickpocket eloquencee' originally by Francis Grose]

 

 


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