darkman's budge

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

One that slides into a house in the dark of the evening, and hides himself, in order to let some of the gang in at night to rob it.

Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “darkman's budge” mean?

One that slides into a house in the dark of the evening, and hides himself, in order to let some of the gang in at night to rob it.

Is “darkman's budge” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.