Meaning of Adam Tiler | Babel Free

Definitions

A pickpocket's accomplice; the person who takes the goods a pickpocket steals and leaves with them.

archaic, idiomatic

Examples

“"In the same way as I got this," showing a handful of silver, "by turning autem diver, or, if you like it better, my Adam tiler." "I do not understand you, Billy!" "Why, an autem diver is a pickpocket who practises in a church, and an Adam tiler his associate, who receives his booty …"”

“He waved his hand. "Well, you know how these sods gas. Most likely there's nothing in it. It's a cert Gursey sank dead on the gutter at the Flat. It'd be hard to prove he was Jem's Adam Tiler."”

“"In Mr Yarde's picturesque but somewhat obscure language, he — er — tipped the cole to Adam Tiler. Have I that right?' 'How the d-devil should I know?' snapped Brandon. 'You must forgive me. You seem to me to be so familiar with — er — thieves and — er — swashbucklers, that I assumed that you were conversant also with thieving cant.'”

““And do you know what an Adam Tiler does?” Wickham looked a bit embarrassed. “Is he employed in the repair of roofs, sir?” ... “An Adam Tiler is the associate of a Fork, better known as a pickpocket.””

““Then Sue lifted his passkey as he turned to go back to the office.” “Lifted?” I said. “So now you've got the lingo down? Next you'll be telling me about marks, nippers, and Adam Tilers.” The Adam Tiler bit brought a puzzled look from even Sue. “Oh, oh, I was the misdirection,” Narlene blurted. “I sort of let my pareo slip off of my shoulder at just the right time.””

CEFR level