Verb. (old).—(1) To pawn; (2) to imprison.
1819. Vaux, Memoirs, s.v. Lumber (p. 188), to lumber any property
is to deposit it at a pawnbroker’s, or elsewhere for present
security; to retire to any house or private place for a short time,
is called lumbering yourself. A man apprehended, and sent to gaol,
is said to be lumbered, to be in lumber, or to be in Lombard
Street.
1830. W. T. Moncrieff, The Heart of London, ii. 1. They lumbered
him for a few moons.
Live lumber, subs. phr. (old).—Soldiers or passengers on board a ship
are so called by the sailors.—Grose (1785).
Lumberer, subs. (turf).—1. A swindling ‘tipster’.