dimber damber
noun- 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:
1 more example
- Smasher has the ear of every dimber damber in the city.1992, Suzannah Davis, Dance of Deception, →ISBN, page 140:
- Synonyms
- criminal leader