1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Hedge-bird, a Scoundrel or sorry Fellow.
1725. New Cant. Dict.
Hedge-bottom Attorney (or Solicitor), subs. phr. (legal).—A person who, being not admitted or being uncertificated (or, it may be, admitted and certificated both, but struck off the rolls for malpractice), sets up in the name of a qualified man, and thus evades the penalties attaching to those who act as solicitors without being duly qualified. [All the business is done in another name, but the hedge-bottom is the real principal, the partner being only a dummy.]—Sir Patrick Colquhoun in Slang, Jargon and Cant.
Hedge-creeper, subs. (old).—A hedge-thief; a skulker under hedges; a pitiful rascal.
1594. Nashe, Unfortunate Traveller p. 32 (Chiswick Press, 1892). Call him a sneaking eavesdropper, a scraping hedge-creeper, and a piperley pickthanke.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hedge-creeper; a pitiful rascal.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Hedge-docked, adj. (venery).—Deflowered in the open.
Hedge-marriage (or wedding), subs. (old).—An irregular marriage performed by a hedge-priest (q.v.); a marriage over the broom.