Drummer, subs. (old).—1. A horse, the action of whose forelegs is
irregular. [Grose—1785.]
2. (old).—A thief who before robbing narcotises or otherwise stupifies
his victim.
1856. H. Mayhew, Great World of London, p. 46. Those who hocus or
plunder persons by stupifying; as ‘drummer’ who drug liquor.
3. (general).—A commercial traveller; also Ambassador of Commerce or
Bagman (q.v.); Fr., un gaudissart (from one of Balzac’s novels); une
hirondelle (= a swallow). [Cf., Drum = a road; and old-time pedlars
announced themselves by beating a drum at the town’s end.]
1827. Scott, to C. K. Sharpe, in C. K. S.’s Correspondence (1888),
ii. 398. Dear Charles,—I find the Nos. of Lodge’s book did not
belong to the set which I consider yours, but were left by some
drummer of the trade upon speculation, so I must give you the
trouble to return it. [In another letter on next page S. again
refers to the ‘scoundrelly drummer.’
ante 1871. [in De Vere], A Country Merchant out West, p. 217. Look at
that man, he’s drummer for A. T. Stewart.
1877. M. Twain, Life on the Mississippi, ch. xxxix., p. 365. It
soon transpired that they were drummers—one belonging in
Cincinnati, the other in New Orleans.
1885. G. A. Sala, Daily Telegraph, 14 August, 5, 3. Among whom were
conspicuous sundry drummers, or representatives of American
commercial firms, bound for Australasia, there to push their wares.