4. (old).—A building; Hazard-drum = a gambling hell; Flash-drum = a
brothel; Cross-drum = a thieves’ tavern. For synonyms, see Ken. In
U.S.A., a drinking place.
1867. Jas. Greenwood, Unsent. Journeys, xxvi., 204. ‘Come along; I
shall be a pot to your pot.’ ‘Where shall we go?’ ‘Oh, to the old
drum, I suppose.’
1890. Illustrated Bits, 29 March, p. 11, col. 1. The two chums were
footing it to the ‘ancient drum,’ as they called the Norwich
theatre.
5. (Australian).—A bundle carried on tramp; generally worn as a roll
over the right shoulder and under the left arm. Also Bluey and Swag
(q.v.). Cf., Swagsman.
1887. G. A. Sala, in Ill. London News, 12 March, 282/2. Here are a
few more items of Australian slang kindly forwarded to me by a
correspondent:—‘To hump one’s swag,’ or ‘drum,’ i.e., to pack up a
bundle to be carried on the shoulders.
1890. Family Herald, 8 Feb., p. 227. I was just debating whether I
had better ‘hump my drum.’