1885. M. N. Murfree, Prophet of Gt. Smoky Mountains, xiii. Hurry
’long, D’rindy, you-uns ain’t goin’ ter reel a hank ef ye don’t
mosey.
Mosh, verb. (thieves’).—To leave a restaurant without paying. A
corruption of ‘mouch’ (mike, q.v.).
Moskeneer, verb. (common).—To pawn for more than the pledge is worth:
moskers (q.v.) = men who make moskeneering a profession. Also as subs.
= the agent.
1887. W. E. Henley, Villon’s Straight Tip. Fiddle, or fence, or
mace, or mack; Or moskeneer, or flash the drag.
1893. Emerson, Signor Lippo, 100. He moskeneers from twenty to
thirty supers a week. Ibid. p. 99. As we were talking in came
Johnson, a fair moskeneer.
Mosker, subs. (common).—See quot. and Moskeneer.
1883. Daily Telegraph, 9 July, p. 3, col. 1. The mosker ... is, in
slang vernacular, one who makes a living by taking advantage of the
business incapacity of persons engaged in the pawnbroking trade,
and by subtle wiles and subterfuge imposes on their credulity and
weak good nature. [From long article on The Mosker].
Mosque, subs. (old).—A church or chapel.—Parker, Life’s Painter, 120
(1800).
Moss, subs. (thieves’).—1. See quot. and blue pigeon.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. Moss. A cant term for lead, because both are
found on the tops of buildings.