autem diver

noun

autem diver

noun
1

Archaic, Idiomatic Pickpockets who practice in churches; also churchwardens and overseers of the poor.

  • “You are up to a thing or two,” said he, “and it is a pity to see a fine lad like you nailed to a stall, like a clodpole.” “But how am I to get hold of money otherwise?” “In the same way as I got this,” showing a handful of silver, “by turning autem diver..."1823, anonymous author, Tales of My Father, and My Friends:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.