badge-cove

English

Noun

badge-cove (plural badge-coves)

1. (archaic, thieves' cant) A parish pensioner. [18th–19th c.]
2. (obsolete) A licensed (badged) beggar. [16th–18th c.]
3. (Polari) An old person; a senior citizen.

Synonyms

• (old person): geriatric, oldster, senior citizen; see also Thesaurus:old person

References

• [Francis] Grose [et al.] (1811) “Badge-cove”, in Lexicon Balatronicum. A Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence. […], London: […] C. Chappell, […], →OCLC.
• Albert Barrère and Charles G[odfrey] Leland, compilers and editors (1889–1890) “Badge coves”, in A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant […], volumes I (A–K), Edinburgh: […] The Ballantyne Press, →OCLC, page 63.