silver beggar
Preserved but no longer current.
Or LURKER, a vagabond who travels through the country with "briefs" containing false statements of losses by fire, shipwrecks, accidents, &c. Forged documents are exhibited with signatures of magistrates and clergymen. Accompanying these are sham subscription books. The former, in beggar parlance, is termed "a sham," whilst the latter is denominated "a delicate."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
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 “silver beggar” mean?
Or LURKER, a vagabond who travels through the country with "briefs" containing false statements of losses by fire, shipwrecks, accidents, &c. Forged documents are exhibited with signatures of magistrates and clergymen. Accompanying these are sham subscription books. The former, in beggar parlance, is termed "a sham," whilst the latter is denominated "a delicate."
Is “silver beggar” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.