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Conveyance, subs. (old).—A theft.—[See Convey and Conveyancer.]

1592. Shakspeare, I. Hen. VI., i., 3. Since Henry's death, I fear there is CONVEYANCE.

1712. Spectator, No. 305. Provided the CONVEYANCE was clean and unsuspected, a youth might afterwards boast of it.

Conveyancer, subs. (old).—A thief. [From CONVEY, to steal. In law, one whose occupation is to draw conveyances or transfers of property, deeds, etc.]—See Conveyer.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant (3 ed.), p. 445. To pick pockets: to buzz, buzzmen, clyfakers, CONVEYANCERS.

Conveyancing, verbal subs (common).—Thieving. [In law, the act or practice of drawing up deeds, leases, etc., for transferring the title to property from one person to another. Cf., Convey, to steal.]

1865. Mr. Smollett, in House of Commons, 14 March. 'Speech on the Nawab of the Carnatic.' Pickpockets in London, when they appropriated purses or watches, called the transaction CONVEYANCING.

1889. Modern Society (quoted in S., J. and C.), p. 269. The green youth who attempted to decamp with 's watch was properly punished for his verdancy in the art of CONVEYANCING.

Conveyer, subs. (old).—A thief. [One who conveys or steals.] Fr., emposteur.

1597. Shakspeare, Richard II., iv., sub. fin. O good convey! Conveyers are you all, That rise thus nimbly by a true king's fall.

Cony or Tom Cony, subs. (old).—A simpleton. [From the proverbial simplicity of the rabbit or CONY.]—See Cony-catch, verb, and for synonyms, Buffle-head and Cabbage-head.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vul. Tongue, s.v.

Cony-Catch, verb (old).—To cheat; deceive; trick; or 'BITE' (q.v.). [Literally 'to catch conies.'] Dekker, in his English Villainies, describes the system which is obviously the equivalent of the modern CONFIDENCE TRICK {q.v.). A society of sharpers of this type was called 'a warren,' and their dupes 'rabbit-suckers' (that is, baby rabbits), or conies. At other times the gang were 'bird-catchers,' and their quarry was 'a gull,' etc. For synonyms, see Stick.

1593. Shakspeare, Taming of the Shrew, v., 1. Take heed, signor Baptista, lest you be CONNY-CATCHED in this business.

1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, in wks. III., 158. Hereby hee thought to CONNY-CATCH the simple world.

1604. Dekker, Honest Wh., in wks. (1873) II., 12. Why, sister, do you thinke He CONNY-CATCH you, when you are my cozen?

Cony Catcher, subs. (old).—A cheat; sharper; or trickster. [From CONY-CATCH, verb {q.v.), + ER.] For synonyms, see Rook.

1592. John Day, Blind Beggar, Act iii., Sc. 3, p. 57. We'll go seek out those CONY-CATCHERS; and ere I catch them, I'll make them pay soundly all for their roguery.

1599. Minshew, Dict., s.v. A CONIE-CATCHER: a name given to deceivers, by a metaphor, taken from those that rob warrens, and conie-grounds, using all means, sleights, and cunning to deceive them, as pitching of haies before their holes, fetching them in by tumblers, etc.

1602. Rowlands, Greene's Ghost, p. 3. (Hunterian Club's Repr.) And the name of CONICATCHERS is so odious, that now a dayes it is had vp, and vsed for an opprobrious name for euerie one that sheweth the least occasion for deceit.