Kiddy, subs. (common).—1. A man; a boy; a young fellow: a diminutive of
Kid (q.v.). Also Kidlet = a boy or girl.
1860. Funny Fellow, 7 May, p. 1. Hollo, my kiddy, stir your
stumps,... Make haste, young chip, my boots to shine.
1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xx. Heard all kinds of rough
talk ever since they were little kiddies.
2. (thieves’).—A flash thief: rolling kiddy = a dandy thief. See Kid,
senses 2 and 4.
1780. Tomlinson, Slang Pastoral, i. My time, O ye kiddies, was
happily spent. Idem. x. What kiddy’s so rum as to get himself
scragg’d?
1787. Geo. Parker, Humorous Sketches, p. 34. No more like a kiddy,
he’ll roll the flash song.
1828. Bee, Living Picture of London, 255. Jockies, owners, and
wagering kiddies.
1830. S. Warren, Diary of a Late Physician, xi. ‘Come, my
kiddy—caged at last, eh?... Here’s your passport,’ said one of the
officers, pointing to the warrant.
1840. Lytton, Paul Clifford, iii. He merely observed, by way of
compliment, that Mr. Augustus and his companion seemed to be
rolling kiddies. A little displeased with this metaphorical
remark—for it may be observed that rolling kiddy is, among the
learned in such lore, the customary expression for ‘a smart thief.’