An archaic term for a rogue or vagrant, possibly derived from 'dog-bolt' meaning a coward or contemptible person in medieval slang.
Compound of 'dog' and 'bolt,' from Old English 'bolt' meaning a short arrow or an act of running away. Used in Middle English literature to insult disreputable characters.
In old texts, calling someone a 'dogbolt' was a specific insult that suggested they were not just bad, but contemptibly bad—the kind of person who would betray you or flee in cowardice.
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