haymarket hectors
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Bullies who, in the interest of prostitutes, affect the neighbourhood of Leicester Square and the Haymarket.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “haymarket hectors” mean?
Bullies who, in the interest of prostitutes, affect the neighbourhood of Leicester Square and the Haymarket.
Is “haymarket hectors” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.