clapperdudgeon

English

Etymology

From clapper +‎ dudgeon.

Noun

clapperdudgeon (plural clapperdudgeons)

1. (UK dialectal, archaic) A beggar who would apply blood or sores to his body in order to gain attention and attract more alms.

See also

• slubberdegullion

Further reading

• “clapperdudgeon n.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang, Jonathon Green, 2016–present