1567 T. Harman Caueat for Commen Cursetors (new ed.) sig. Ciiii A Gentleman..espieng a Priggar,..charging this prity prigginge person to walke his horse well... Thys peltynge Priggar..walketh his horse vp and downe, till he sawe the Gentleman out of sighte, and leapes him into the saddell, and awaye he goeth a mayne.

1575 J. Awdely Fraternitye of Vacabondes (new ed.) sig. A2^v A stealer of Horses, which they terme a Priggar of Paulfreys.

1591 R. Greene Second Pt. Conny-catching sig. A The Priggar is he that steales the horse.

1673 R. Head Canting Acad. 192 A Prigger of the Cacklers..steals their [farmers'] Poultrey, and thinks it no sin.

1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Priggers, Thieves.

1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue Fire Priggers, villains who rob at fires under pretence of assisting in removing goods.

1877 T. Bracken Flowers of Free Lands 169 Some comical figures, Fools, swipers, and priggers, Are gathered each day in the Magistrate's Court.

1881 A. Trumble Slang Dict. N.Y., London & Paris 28/1 Prigger-napper, A police officer.

1931 J. Buchan Blanket of Dark (1933) viii. 182 He stumbled upon a small encampment of horse-priggers... He breakfasted on some of the food he had brought;..distrusting the stew of the priggers.

1993 P. Ackroyd House of Dr. Dee (1994) i. 29 It was agreed that we should leave our horses munching upon the grass (in the care of some hired men to ward off the priggers and prancers) and make our way by foot.

a1640 J. Day & H. Chettle Blind-beggar (1659) sig. C2^v He wo'd be your prigger, your prancer, your high-lawyer.

1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. iii. 168/2 Priggers, Robbers, Stealers, High-way Men.