duck-shoving

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

and Duckshover


n.

a cabman's phrase.

In Melbourne, before the days of trams, the wagonette-cabs usedto run by a time-table from fixed stations at so much(generally 3 d.) a passenger. A cabman who did not waithis turn on the station rank, but touted for passengers up anddown the street in the neighbourhood of the rank, was termed a Duck-shover.

1870. D. Blair, `Notes and Queries,' Aug. 6, p. 111:

«Duck-shoving is the term used by our Melbourne cabmen toexpress the unprofessional trick of breaking the rank, in orderto push past the cabman on the stand for the purpose of pickingup a stray passenger or so.»

1896. `Otago Daily Times,' Jan. 25, p. 3, col. 6:

«The case was one of a series of cases of what was technicallyknown as `duck shoving,' a process of getting passengers whichoperated unfairly against the cabmen who stayed on the licensedstand and obeyed the by-law.»

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

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