Jagger

Source : Wright, Joseph English Dialect Dictionary web : https://eddonline4-proj.uibk.ac.at/edd/main.html

JAGGER, sb. Sc. Nhb. Dur. Cum. Wm. Yks. Chs. Der. Lin. Shr. Also in forms jaager, jager Sh.I.; jigger Der.2 nw.Der.1; yaager Sc. (Jam.); yagger Sh.I. (Jam.) [dʒa·gə(r, Sh.I. also jā·gər.] 1. A travelling pedlar; a hawker, esp. a fish-hawker. Sc. The name ‘jagger’ is applied to a pedlar, or the bearer of a wallet or leather bag called a ‘jag,’ Yks. Wkly. Post (Dec. 24, 1898); (Jam.) Sh.I. ‘I am a jagger,’.. replied... a stout, vulgar little man, who had indeed the humble appearance of a pedlar, called jagger in these islands, Scott Pirate (1822) v; The word... properly signifies a person who purchases goods, chiefly fish, contracted for by another (Jam.); Dey wir sic a hubble wi' boys, jaagers, an' men, Sh. News (July 15, 1899). 2. A boat, which takes the first catch of herrings to land in the deep-sea fishing. Sh.I. The doggers attached to them [herring busses], named also Jaggers or Yaggers, were swifter sailers, being intended to run home with the herrings first caught. After the Jaggers are all dispatched, the busses continue fishing till they make up cargoes, Hibbert Desc. Sh. I. (1822) 215, ed. 1891. Hence Jager-steamer, sb. a steamer for the transport of herrings. Sh.I. There might have been from 100 to 120 of the Dutch craft in. No Germans at that epoch, and no booms, nor jager steamers, Sh. News (June 25, 1898). 3. A carter or carrier, esp. a man who makes his living by carting for other people; one who sells coals in small loads. See Jag(g, v.1 7. n.Cy. (Hall.) Cum. A carrier, when loads were carried on the backs of horses. The word was never applied to a carrier in carts here. It is seldom heard now; but a road on Stanemore by which pack-horses used to travel is still called ‘t'jagger rwoad’ (M.P.). Chs. A poor labourer that carries coal from the pits in Flintshire to Chester market, on a small horse (K.); Chs.1 Chs.3 s.Chs.1 For the horse in best condition owned by huxters or coal-jaggers residing at Threapwood, Worthenbury, or Shocklach, Advt. of Flower Show (1886). n.Lin. You're the best jagger that ever run'd round Wivilby Green, Peacock R. Skirlaugh (1870) III. 229. Shr.1 So John Ivans is turned jagger, I 'ear! Shr.2 4. A pack-horse driver. Dur. Gibson Up-Weardale Gl. (1870). n.Yks.3 Der. N. & Q. (1876) 5th S. v. 474; Der.2, nw.Der.1 Hence Jagger-horse, sb. a pack-horse. n.Yks.3 Der. N. & Q. (1876) 5th S. v. 474. 5. A carrier of ore from the mine to the smelting-mill. Der. Until the introduction of wheel carriages in the Peak... the only mode of conveying goods and merchandise from one part of this country to a distance was on the back of pack-horses, or, as they were here called, ‘jagger-horses,’ and the drivers or conductors, ‘jaggers.’ These jaggers were employed in conveying lead ore from Eyam, and mines in the locality, to the smelting-houses in the neighbourhood of Sheffield, returning at night loaded with sacks of coal, N. & Q. (1876); 5th S. v. 474; Grose (1790) MS. add. (M.); Der.1 Der.2, nw.Der.1 Hence Jagger-galloway, sb. a pony with a peculiar saddle for carrying lead, &c. N.Cy.1, Nhb.1 Obs. Cum., Wm., A ‘jagger-galloway’ may yet be heard of as employed in the mining districts (M.P.). 6. A small dealer in hay. Der. The word ‘jagger’ is used in the Peak, not confined to a person who sells cartloads of coals. I have heard it gen. applied to men who purchased hay, and then carted it for sale to Manchester or Stockport ─ such a man is called a ‘hay jagger,’ N. & Q. (1877) 5th S. viii. 518; Der.2, nw.Der.1

‡JAGGERS, sb.? Ess. In comb. By Jaggers! an expletive or mild oath. Cf. by Jiggers. By Jaggers! where is Phoebe? Baring-Gould Mehalah (1885) 92.

YAGGER, sb. Sh.I. A clandestine purchaser of things unfairly disposed of. Sh.&Ork.1 The same word as Jagger.