? antedating ? of Rowdy?

[Stephen Goranson]

Maybe, perhaps, possibly, an antedating of rowdy.
OED online has rowdy, n.1 and a. from 1808 Also 9 rowdey [Of American, but otherwise quite obscure, origin.]
and rowdy n. 2  slang. ? Obs. [Of obscure origin.] from 1841

Bridewell Royal Hospital: Minutes of the Court of Governors
23rd August 1693--2nd May 1701

Mary Walker P wart. of Sr. Robt. Geffery For being idle person & a Frequenter of Rowdy Houses & For Defrauding one & Andrews of a Steal hilted Sword val 25s.
Pun


http://www.londonlives.org/browse.jsp?div=BBBRMG20202MG202020252&terms=rowdy#highlight

Stephen Goranson
http://www.duke.edu/~goranson

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