The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #76381   Message #1353226
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
10-Dec-04 - 01:31 PM
Thread Name: WHAT IS A 'ROUNDER' SPECIFICALLY
Subject: RE: WHAT IS A 'ROUNDER' SPECIFICALLY
In Delia, a transient railway worker. See OED. ("Come all you rounders, for I want you to hear..." Casey Jones, a 1908 version in the Railroad Man's Magazine).
Now, in the USA and Canada, mostly has the sense of an habitual carouser.

Of course several other meanings, as shown above, depending on context.
In the 1850s, a gladhander ('glover').

(In the 1600s, another name for Puritan (roundhead).