1858. Dickens, Great Expectations, ch. xl., p. 190. ‘I’m a heavy grubber, dear boy,’ he said, as a polite kind of apology when he had made an end of his meal, ‘but I always was. If it had been in my constitution to be a lighter grubber, I might ha’ got into lighter trouble.’
Heavy-plodder, subs. (old).—A stock-broker.
1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, s.v.
Heavy- (or Howling-) swell, subs. (common).—A man or woman in the height of fashion: a spiff (q.v.).
1892. Anstey, Model Music Hall, 74. We look such heavy swells, you see, we’re all aristo-crats.
Heavy-wet, subs. (common).—1. Malt liquor; specifically porter and stout. Also heavy. For synonyms, see Drinks and Swipes.
1821. Egan, Tom and Jerry, p. 75. The soldiers and their companions were seen tossing off the heavy wet and spirits.
1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford, ch. vii. I had been lushing heavy wet.
1838. Grant, Sketches in London, p. 92. If it be heavywet, the favorite beverage … of Dr. Wade.
1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. ii. Here comes the heavy. Hand it here to take the taste of that fellow’s talk out of my mouth. [[293]]