gaberlunzies

It was filled with small metal rectangles; lead "gaberlunzies," badges issued to eighteenth-century beggars by parishes as a sort of license.

Dragonfly in Amber Gabaldon, Diana 1992

Rintherout, who, impatient of remaining so long unnoticed, now presented herself to the young fisherman --- ` ` A bonny night ye hae made o't, tramping about wi 'gaberlunzies, and getting yoursell hunted wi' worricows, when ye suld be sleeping in your bed, like your father, honest man. ''

The Antiquary 1845

[Footnote: See Note 37] being indeed a species of emblazoning more befitting canters, gaberlunzies, and such like mendicants, whose gibberish is formed upon playing upon the word, than the noble, honourable, and useful science of heraldry, which assigns armorial bearings as the reward of noble and generous actions, and not to tickle the ear with vain quodlibets, such as are found in jestbooks. '

Waverley Walter Scott 1801

Burns wrote, of course, in a spirit of reckless humour; but he could not, even in sport, have alluded to the life as “suited to his habits and powers,” had gaberlunzies been mere mendicants.

The Antiquary 1584

"suited to his habits and powers," had gaberlunzies been mere mendicants.

The Antiquary — Volume 01 Walter Scott 1801

"suited to his habits and powers," had gaberlunzies been mere mendicants.

The Antiquary — Complete Walter Scott 1801

It is the duty of us gaberlunzies to serve you in whatever way we can. "

Grettir the Strong, Icelandic Saga Unknown

Donald is already too big for his, and though they may do for David for a few months longer, with patching and mending, I would na 'like to ha' the poor boys pointed out by their school-mates as young gaberlunzies; and the siller I get for the yarn will only just pay the rent and find porridge for the bairns, "she thought to herself.

Janet McLaren The Faithful Nurse William Henry Giles Kingston 1847

Jenny Rintherout, who, impatient of remaining so long unnoticed, now presented herself to the young fisherman — “A bonny night ye hae made o’t, tramping about wi’ gaberlunzies, and getting yoursell hunted wi’ worricows, when ye suld be sleeping in your bed, like your father, honest man.”

The Antiquary 1584