dimber cove

English

Noun

dimber cove (plural dimber coves)

1. (obsolete, UK, thieves' cant) A gentleman.
   • 1837, Benjamin Disraeli, Venetia:

     'Tis a dimber cove,' whispered one of the younger men to a companion.

   • 1901, Fergus Hume, The Millionaire Mystery:

     Is it Mr. Gramp you want, m'dimber-cove?

   • 1918, Jeffery Farnol, Our Admirable Betty:

     "Come now, Benno my dimber cove," cried Jerry at last, "what's the game? What ha' ye brought me here for? Tip us the office!"

2. (obsolete, UK, thieves' cant) A handsome man.
   • 2012, Kate Ross, A Broken Vessel:

     I seen his son once—Mr. Charles Avondale. Cor, he's a dimber cove! Hair like gold, and eyes as'd put blue violets to shame. He ever come here?

   • 2013, Maria McCann, Ace, King, Knave:

     'Dimber cove, though, ain't he?'¶ 'Except his hair,' the other girl said. 'I don't care for this newfangled fashion, neither wig nor powder.'¶ 'But a fine colour,' Betsy-Ann said, thinking it would be a pity to powder such hair: like dulling a raven's wing.

Synonyms

• (gentleman):
• (handsome man): See Thesaurus:beautiful man

Related terms

• dimber mort

References

• [Francis Grose] (1788) “Dimber cove”, in A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 2nd edition, London: […] S. Hooper, […], →OCLC.
• Albert Barrère and Charles G[odfrey] Leland, compilers and editors (1889–1890) “dimber cove”, in A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant […], volume I (A–K), Edinburgh: […] The Ballantyne Press, →OCLC, page 310.
• John S[tephen] Farmer; W[illiam] E[rnest] Henley, compilers (1891) “dimber cove”, in Slang and Its Analogues Past and Present. […], volume II, [London: […] Harrison and Sons] […], →OCLC, page 287.