clapperdudgeon

English

Etymology

clapper +‎ dudgeon.

Noun

clapperdudgeon (plural clapperdudgeons)

1. (UK dialectal, archaic) A beggar who would apply blood or sores to his body in order to gain attention and attract more alms.

See also

• slubberdegullion

Further reading

• Jonathon Green (2024) “clapperdudgeon n.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang