screever

[skree-ver]

noun

Chiefly British.

1. an artist who draws pictures on sidewalks, as with colored chalks, earning a living from the donations of spectators and passersby.

Word History and Origins

Origin of screever¹

1875–80; earlier screeve (v.) (< Polari ) < Italian scrivere to write (< Latin scrībere ) + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Screever, skrēv′ėr, n. one who writes begging letters.—v.t.

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Think you that the complaints of Mrs Screever will not be heard and registered against you in heaven, as, mateless and disconsolate, she cheapens haddocks in the market, or plucks sea-pinks along the cliffs of hoary Anstruther or of Crail?

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We are told also that he was very indolent, and late in life came upon such evil days that he established himself at a corner of the Piazza, where Rosen's book-shop now is, and sold sketches to whomever would buy for whatever they would fetch; which is only one remove from a London screever.

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