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English
Etymology
From nab + -man.
Noun
nabman (plural nabmen)
- (slang, archaic) A constable or bailiff; a law enforcement officer who apprehends criminals.
1816, Daniel Terry, Guy Mannering, ii.:Old Donton has sent the nabman after him at last.
1825, The Spirit of the Public Journals for the Year M.DCCC.XXIII:As Nabman Dick was looking o'er a string Of body writs, and forms of fieri facias, With eye of hawk, so sharp and wary, He notic'd Fr—d, Though not in red, Stop at the house of Mrs. C-—y;
1885, William Maginn, R. W. Montagu, Miscellanies: Prose and Verse - Volume 2, page 337:But debts, though borish, must be paid, And bailiffs a'n't bamm'd for many hours. Ah ! that the nabman's evil eyes Should ever come hither Such cheeks to wither !
1905, Henry Thomas Alken, Real Life in London, Or, The Rambles and Adventures of Bob Tallyho, Esq. and his Cousin, the Hon. Tom Daschall, Through the Metropolis, page 546:His R–H must take good care, or that bit of blood will be seized while standing at the door of the Circe, as his carriage was the other day, by the unceremonious nabman.
1954, Britain To-day - Issues 213-224, page 146:With one man always ashore on a month's relief, the select little company of four Nabmen are the chosen few of all Trinity House lightkeepers.