Ambassador.  A trick to duck some ignorant fellow or
  landsman, frequently played on board ships in the warm
  latitudes.  It is thus managed:  A large tub is filled with
  water, and two stools placed on each side of it.  Over
  the whole is thrown a tarpaulin, or old sail:  this is
  kept tight by two persons, who are to represent the king
  and queen of a foreign country, and are seated on the
  stools.  The person intended to be ducked plays the Ambassador,
  and after repeating a ridiculous speech dictated
  to him, is led in great form up to the throne, and seated
  between the king and queen, who rising suddenly as soon
  as he is seated, he falls backwards into the tub of water.

Ambassador of Morocco.  A Shoemaker. (See Mrs.
  Clarke’s Examination.)

AMBIDEXTER.  A lawyer who takes fees from both plaintiff
  and defendant, or that goes snacks with both parties
  in gaming.

Amen curler.  A parish clerk.

Amen.  He said Yes and Amen to every thing; he agreed to
  every thing.

AMINADAB.  A jeering name for a Quaker.

Ames ace.  Within ames ace; nearly, very near.

To amuse.  To fling dust or snuff in the eyes of the person
  intended to be robbed; also to invent some plausible tale,
  to delude shop-keepers and others, thereby to put them
  off their guard.  Cant.

Amusers.  Rogues who carried snuff or dust in their pockets,
  which they threw into the eyes of any person they
  intended to rob; and running away, their accomplices
  (pretending to assist and pity the half-blinded person)
  took that opportunity of plundering him.

Anabaptist. A pickpocket caught in the fact, and punished
  with the discipline of the pump or horse-pond.

Anchor.  Bring your a-se to an anchor, i.e. sit down.  To let
  go an anchor to the windward of the law; to keep within
  the letter of the law.  Sea wit.

Anglers.  Pilferers, or petty thieves, who, with a stick
  having a hook at the end, steal goods out of shop-windows,
  grates, &c.; also those who draw in or entice unwary persons
  to prick at the belt, or such like devices.

Angling for FARTHINGS.  Begging out of a prison window
  with a cap, or box, let down at the end of a long
  string.

Ankle.  A girl who is got with child, is said to have sprained
  her ankle.

Anodyne necklace.  A halter.