Bagman
dishonest official; a person who collects, carries, or distributes illegal payoff money.
British. a traveling salesman; drummer.
Australian. a tramp; swagman.
Historical Examples
My Uncle Beagley, who commenced his commercial career very early in the present century as a bagman, will tell stories.
Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXV, June, 1852 Various
Look here—have you thought about the bagman’s story—the first one?
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, December 1, 1920 Various
He perceived the moment after that his tone was like that of the bagman on the coach, and shivered at the thought.
The Wizard’s Son, Vol. 1(of 3) Margaret Oliphant
The bagman seemed a decentish sort of chap in his way, but, my word!
All on the Irish Shore E. Somerville and Martin Ross
It got about during the day that the bagman had disappeared, and had had a soft thing of it as far as I was concerned.
All on the Irish Shore E. Somerville and Martin Ross
He was just an unknown American bagman, with a motor car, and a lot of time on his hands—and I picked him up.
The Sleuth of St. James’s Square Melville Davisson Post
Or think, I pray you, of a circumstance still less improbable, which will illustrate what it is to be a bagman in Iowa.
Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine – Volume 62, No. 384, October 1847 Various
He had a faint hope that the announcement might affect the other as it had affected the bagman at Kilchrist.
Huntingtower John Buchan
That is how Jesse Trefusis, a poor Manchester bagman, contrived to be come a plutocrat and gentleman of landed estate.
An Unsocial Socialist George Bernard Shaw
Such a superlative was felt by all to be a masterpiece of language, and turned the laugh against the bagman.
Literary Tours in The Highlands and Islands of Scotland Daniel Turner Holmes
noun (pl) -men
(Brit, informal) a travelling salesman
(slang, mainly US) a person who collects or distributes money for racketeers
(informal, mainly Canadian) a person who solicits money or subscriptions for a political party
(Austral, history) a tramp or swagman, esp one on horseback
(Austral, slang) Also called bagswinger. someone who takes money for a bookmaker
noun
A person who collects money for bribers, extortionists, mobsters, etc: And he was meeting the bagman and it went haywire (1920s+ Underworld)
A person who peddles drugs; pusher (1960s+ Narcotics)
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