Bow Street runner

British

/ bəʊ /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Well-written scripts or beautiful graphics can compel the player into wanting to explore more and complete more challenges – Bow Street Runner was really good at doing that.

From The Guardian

Or she might hand it to the Bow Street runner, or she might open it and read it.

From Project Gutenberg

The Bow Street runner was less amenable to discipline.

From Project Gutenberg

In one particular at least the Bow Street runner was right.

From Project Gutenberg

But he caught Mrs. Gilson's eye; and by a look, such a look as appalled even the Bow Street runner's stout heart, she indicated the door.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023