Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
Adam Tiler en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Meanings
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(archaic, idiomatic, qualifier:thieves' cant and slang) A pickpocket's accomplice; the person who takes the goods a pickpocket steals and leaves with them.
“Then Sue lifted his passkey as he turned to go back to the office.”
“Lifted?” I said. “So now you've got the lingo down? Next you'll be telling me about marks, nippers, and Adam Tilers.” The Adam Tiler bit brought a puzzled look from even Sue.
“Oh, oh, I was the misdirection,” Narlene blurted. “I sort of let my pareo slip off of my shoulder at just the right time.”
2007, Ronnie Blackwell, Spite, page 154:“And do you know what an Adam Tiler does?” Wickham looked a bit embarrassed. “Is he employed in the repair of roofs, sir?”
...
“An Adam Tiler is the associate of a Fork, better known as a pickpocket.”
2007, S. Thomas Russell, Under Enemy Colors:He waved his hand. "Well, you know how these sods gas. Most likely there's nothing in it. It's a cert Gursey sank dead on the gutter at the Flat. It'd be hard to prove he was Jem's Adam Tiler."
1934, Brian Penton, Landtakers: The Story of an Epoch"In the same way as I got this," showing a handful of silver, "by turning autem diver, or, if you like it better, my Adam tiler."
"I do not understand you, Billy!"
"Why, an autem diver is a pickpocket who practises in a church, and an Adam tiler his associate, who receives his booty …"
1823, Tales of my Father, and my Friends, printed for T. and G. Underwood, Fleet Street, and Macredie, Skelly, and Co., Edinburgh; page 90–91"In Mr Yarde's picturesque but somewhat obscure language, he — er — tipped the cole to Adam Tiler. Have I that right?'
'How the d-devil should I know?' snapped Brandon.
'You must forgive me. You seem to me to be so familiar with — er — thieves and — er — swashbucklers, that I assumed that you were conversant also with thieving cant.'
1940 (2009 edition), Georgette Heyer, The Corinthian, page 112
Forms