Bow Street runner

British  

/ bəʊ /

noun

1. (in Britain from 1749 to 1829) an officer at Bow Street magistrates' court, London, whose duty was to pursue and arrest criminals

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Bow Street runner

The Bow Street runner expressed a fear that Lord Cochrane had firearms concealed under his clothes, and he was accordingly taken into one of the committee-rooms to be searched.

From The Life of Thomas, Lord Cochrane, Tenth Earl of Dundonald, G.C.B., Admiral of the Red, Rear-Admiral of the Fleet, Etc., Etc. Vol. I by Bourne, H. R. Fox (Henry Richard Fox)

Frank," he exclaimed, when his brother brought the story to a conclusion; "you ought to have been a Bow Street runner.

From Through Russian Snows A Story of Napoleon's Retreat from Moscow by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)

"I should like to know when you saw Sir Massingberd last," observed the Bow Street runner quietly, "and under what circumstances?"

From Lost Sir Massingberd, v. 2/2 A Romance of Real Life by Payn, James

The day before yesterday the Bow Street runner came in to say that he had found the woman, and that she was now living out at Highgate.

From By Conduct and Courage A Story of the Days of Nelson by Rainey, W. (William)

The Bow Street runner had not been dead as I had thought.

From Romance by Conrad, Joseph