badge-cove

English

Noun

badge-cove (plural badge-coves)

(archaic, thieves' cant) A parish pensioner. [18th–19th c.]
(obsolete) A licensed (badged) beggar. [16th–18th c.]
(Polari) An old person; a senior citizen.

Synonyms

(old person): geriatric, oldster, senior citizen; see also Thesaurus:old person

References

[Francis] Grose [et al.] (1811) “Badge-cove”, in Lexicon Balatronicum. A Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence. […], London: […] C. Chappell, […], →OCLC.
Albert Barrère and Charles G[odfrey] Leland, compilers and editors (1889–1890) “Badge coves”, in A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant […], volumes I (A–K), Edinburgh: […] The Ballantyne Press, →OCLC, page 63.

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