1608. Middleton, Trick to Catch the Old One, ii., 1. Luc. Welcome,
good fellow. Host. He calls me thief at first sight. [Footnote in
‘Mermaid Series’ Ed. Good fellow was then the cant term for a
thief.]
1870. Evening Standard, 11 Feb. ‘Police Report.’ Police detective
said that he believed the two prisoners were good men. In reply to
the magistrate he explained that he meant they were old thieves.
Good Girl (or Good One), adj. phr. (old).—A wanton.
1611. Cotgrave, Dictionarie. Gaultière—A whore, punke, drab,
queane, gill, flirt, strumpet, cockatrice, mad wench, common
hackney, good one.
Goodman, subs. (old).—1. A gaoler; a dubsman (q.v.).
1721–2. Woodrow, History, ii., 636. The goodman of the Tolbooth
came to him in his chamber, and told him he might save his life, if
he would sign the petition.