darkmans

I knew what a " darkmans-budge " was — defined here as " one that slides into a House in the dusk, to let in more Rogues to rob " — simply by having read Dickens ' s " Oliver Twist " back in high school.

When Sounds Make Sense

And then I could slooshy his bolshy lumpy boots beating off, him going huh huh huh into the darkmans, and it was only about seven seconds after that I slooshied the millicent-van draw up with a filthy great dropping siren-howl, like some bezoomny animal snuffing it.

Where's the show?

If the Irish did not cut their throats in the darkmans—that is their flash lingo for night—the North Country would.

Morgan’s Run

Bein darkmans then, bouse, mort, and ken [33] the bien coue's bingd awast; [34]

Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896]

‘Well, for all that, ’ said the other, ‘I think we should be down upon the fellow one of these darkmans, and let him get it well.

Chapter XXVIII

'Come, old mort,' said the leader, in a very different tone to the one in which he addressed his young guest, 'tout the cobble-colter; are we to have darkmans upon us?

Venetia

Men were men then, and fought other in the open field, and there was nae milling in the darkmans.

Guy Mannering

'Well, for all that,' said the other, 'I think we should be down upon the fellow one of these darkmans and let him get it well.'

Guy Mannering — Complete

_cace_ (or _case_) = a sleeping apartment or place -- ward, barn, or inn: _darkmans_ = night + Lat. _casa_ = house etc.

Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896]

1Men were men then, and fought other in the open field, and there was nae milling in the darkmans.

Chapter XXVIII